Computed tomography of chest trauma.

Computed tomography (CT) and radiography were used to study 20 patients with chest injuries. Excluding rib fractures, CT revealed 50 traumatic lesions ranging from extrapleural hematomas to pericardial fluid collections. In contrast, only 12 lesions were detected on the corresponding radiographs. While many of the processes demonstrated on CT were not life-threatening, substantial abnormalities such as pericardial effusion and diaphragmatic rupture were detected.