[Imaging of blunt chest trauma]
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Updated: Aug 10, 2026

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1Univ.-Klinik für Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin, Medizinische Universität Wien, Allgemeines Krankenhaus, Währingergürtel 18-22, 1090, Wien, Österreich, helmut.prosch@meduniwien.ac.at.
Clinical/Methodological Issue:
Blunt chest trauma is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Consequently, all patients should be evaluated radiologically after blunt chest trauma to allow timely and appropriate treatment.
Standard Radiological Methods:
Conventional chest radiographs and computed tomography (CT) are proven modalities with which to evaluate patients after blunt chest trauma.
Methodological Innovations:
Over the last several years extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma (eFAST) has gained increasing importance for the initial assessment of seriously injured patients.
Practical Recommendations:
In the acute phase of severely injured patients eFAST examinations are helpful to exclude pneumothorax, hemothorax and hemopericardium. Chest radiographs may also be used to diagnose a pneumothorax or hemothorax; however, the sensitivity is limited and CT is the diagnostic modality of choice to evaluate severely injured patients.
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