• Soon-Ho Chon, Chul Burm Lee, Hyuck Kim, Won Sang Chung, and Young Hak Kim.
• Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Gyonggi Do, Gyomun Dong 249-1, Guri 471-701, South Korea.
• Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2006 May 1; 29 (5): 819-23.

BackgroundTraumatic pulmonary pseudocysts or post-traumatic pneumatocoeles are a relatively rare-encountered condition occurring after trauma and an even rarer talked about subject. Most resolve within a few weeks, but if complicated by hematoma, may persist for months. This study intends to evaluate the resolution times of traumatic pulmonary pseudocysts and their clinical significance.MethodsWe report a case analysis of 12 cases from Hanyang University Guri Hospital dating from July 1997 through October 2004.ResultsThe overall mean time for complete resolution was 85.6 days. The mean time for resolution for the uncomplicated traumatic pulmonary pseudocysts was 25.3 days (n=6) and the mean time for resolution for the complicated (blood filled) traumatic pulmonary pseudocysts was 145.8 days (n=6). When resolution times were compared according to size, those less than 2 cm showed a mean resolution time of 23.6 days (n=5) and those greater than or equal to 2 cm showed a mean resolution time of 129.9 days (n=7).ConclusionsComparisons between completely blood-filled pseudocysts and uncomplicated pseudocysts have shown statistically significant differences in resolution times. Statistical significance has also been found between pseudocysts of sizes less than 2 cm and those greater than or equal to 2 cm. Conservative treatment is generally the rule; close follow-up and symptomatic treatment are necessary.

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