CASE 558 Published on 24.07.2001

Unusual pattern of blunt traumatic pulmonary lacerations

Section

Chest imaging

Case Type

Clinical Cases

Authors

M. Wintermark, P. Schnyder

Patient

65 years, female

Categories
No Area of Interest ; Imaging Technique CT
Clinical History
Traffic accident
Imaging Findings
Alcoholized 65-year-old female patient involved in a high-speed traffic accident. Admission radiological survey included a spiral chest CT, performed because of the accident deceleration biomechanics.
Discussion
Pulmonary lacerations designate severe lung tissue damage, with extensive alveolar ruptures. They may either relate to blood-filled pulmonary hematomas or, especially in young people, to air-filled pneumatoceles or pseudo-cysts. The elastic recoil forces of the surrounding intact pulmonary tissue are responsible for the round or ovoid shape of these intrapulmonary cavities. Most of pulmonary lacerations are totally blurred by large areas of lung contusion that surround them, and thus not depicted on initial plain films. They are progressively exposed due to the resolution of the surrounding contusions, a few days after trauma.
Differential Diagnosis List
Blunt traumatic pulmonary lacerations devoid of surrounding pulmonary contusions
Final Diagnosis
Blunt traumatic pulmonary lacerations devoid of surrounding pulmonary contusions
Case information
URL: https://eurorad.org/case/558
DOI: 10.1594/EURORAD/CASE.558
ISSN: 1563-4086