Role of Multidetector Computed Tomography in the Assessment of Blunt Chest Trauma

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Medicine for Boys, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

10.21608/aimj.2025.446604

Abstract

Background: Thorax injuries rank as the 3rd most predominant injuries among trauma cases, following head and extremity injuries.
Aim: The current research aimed to investigate the efficacy of multidetector computed tomography in evaluating cases with blunt chest trauma.
Patients and methods: The investigation comprised 120 cases of blunt chest trauma referred from the emergency department to the radiology department for MDCT of the chest.
Results: In the Emergency Department, endotracheal tubes were inserted in 16% of patients, chest tubes in 27.2%, and central venous lines and nasogastric feeding tubes in 19.2% and 9.6% respectively. Common clinical presentations included dyspnea, chest pain, hemoptysis, and local chest tenderness. Forty-two patients experienced both sides of affection, while 28.8% had both sides affected. Positive radiological results indicated pleural injuries in ninety percent of cases, parenchymal lung injuries in fifty-six percent, mediastinal injuries in 11.2 percent, and chest wall injuries in 40.8 percent.
Conclusion: We conclude that the data obtained by MDCT could result in significant alterations in case management; therefore, physicians, radiologists, and radiology residents must be well-versed in all aspects of MDCT assessment for this patient group.

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