[Late-onset traumatic rupture of the diaphragm: two case reports].

Ruptured diaphragm as a result of blunt thorax or abdominal trauma can present acutely or late in the disease. Symptoms may be nonspecific and diagnosis can easily be missed. Patients may present with dyspnea, chest pain or cough. Chest radiograph, CT scan, and MRI are the primary diagnostic tools. Clinicians must have a high index of suspicion for prompt diagnosis, especially in patients with a history of trauma to the abdomen or thorax. The only treatment in diaphragm rupture is surgery. We report two cases of traumatic diaphragm ruptures presenting years after the trauma.