Abstract
Tracheo-bronchial injuries occur in less than 1 % of blunt chest trauma patients. Indirect signs, such as pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax, and/or subcutaneous emphysema, are revealed on admission plain films and chest CT survey. In most instances, however, tracheo-bronchoscopy is mandatory in assessing the definite diagnosis of tracheo-bronchial lesion. Occasionally, an abnormal course of a mainstem bronchus or a “fallen lung” sign, featuring a collapsed lung in a dependent position, hanging on the hilum only by its vascular attachments, may allow for CT diagnosis of a blunt traumatic bronchial injury.
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Received: 3 February 2000 Revised: 16 June 2000 Accepted: 22 June 2000
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Wintermark, M., Schnyder, P. & Wicky, S. Blunt traumatic rupture of a mainstem bronchus: spiral CT demonstration of the “fallen lung” sign. Eur Radiol 11, 409–411 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s003300000581
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s003300000581