[Post-traumatic pulmonary hematoma]

Pulmonary haematoma is relatively rare. Though on the increase as a consequence of a rise in the number of road accidents, it is not necessarily traumatic in origin. Three cases (two post-traumatic, out of 250 serious chest trauma cases examined) observed at the University of Turin chest and lung surgery centre over the last three years are presented. Data from the literature are also cited. A description is given of the typical radiological features: roundish opacity with distinct edges, homogeneous, in the site the pulmonary or subpleural ligament, slow involution. This picture may be sufficient for diagnosis when the history is not clear.