Journal of intensive care medicine
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J Intensive Care Med · Jul 1994
ReviewTrauma radiology: part II. Diagnostic imaging of thoracic trauma: review and update.
Frontal chest radiographs are the principal diagnostic imaging study to detect, verify, or exclude acute thoracic injury after trauma, and they should be obtained as quickly as possible without compromising clinical assessment and resuscitation. Chest radiographs provide important information about potentially life-threatening conditions, such as tension pneumothorax, major hemothorax, and major arterial injury. ⋯ On occasion, magnetic resonance imaging can be used to assess integrity of the hemidiaphragms and visceral herniation when other diagnostic studies are equivocal. We consider typical imaging findings associated with a variety of acute thoracic injuries, as well as the most appropriate use of available imaging techniques in different clinical scenarios.