Computed tomography features of traumatic pulmonary pseudocysts

Abstract

Objectives: To discuss the radiological characteristics of traumatic pulmonary pseudocyst (TPP) detected bythorax computed tomography.Methods: Retrospective screening was made of 107 patients applied with thorax computed tomography dueto blunt thoracic trauma between 2014 and 2017 at our hospital.Results: TPP was detected in 6 (5.6%) patients. The patients comprised 5 males and 1 female with a mean ageof 28 years (range, 15-49 years). Blunt thorax trauma was caused by traffic accidents in 4 patients and a fallfrom height in 2 patients. Eleven (64.7%) of the lesions were located in the lower lobes. The most commonfinding associated with TPP was ground glass opacities, which were present in all of the patients and representedthe parenchymal contusion.Conclusion: Thorax computed tomography is an effective and reliable method for early and definitive diagnosisof the rare development of TPP after blunt thoracic trauma.