MDCT of Chest Trauma

Abstract

In the industrialized countries, chest trauma is the third most common cause of relevant injuries in trauma patients and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. As the clinical presentation of patients with thoracic injuries ranges from minor symptoms to hemodynamical instability, radiological imaging plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis and management of these patients. In recent years, multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) has emerged as the most important imaging modality in trauma patients. Substantial technical developments have continuously improved the diagnostic performance of MDCT resulting in a considerably better outcome of trauma patients. From a radiologist’s point of view, knowledge of the mechanisms of injury, recognition of CT findings of the spectrum of thoracic injuries, and awareness of coexisting injuries to other systems are essential to provide an adequate assessment of chest trauma. This chapter (1) summarizes the basic principles of adult chest trauma, (2) reviews recent advances in CT technology that enable comprehensive trauma imaging, and (3) discusses the typical imaging findings of chest trauma.