Standardized whole-body computed tomography as a screening tool in blunt multitrauma patients

Abstract

The authors present the potential of using a preset CT protocol covering the whole body of the patient who has suffered blunt trauma to screen for injuries, based on a review of the literature and on 4 years' direct experience. Standardized whole-body CT is the fastest method of examining the whole body, capable of detecting a wide variety of traumatic lesions with a high sensitivity and specificity. Multidetector CT allows a full-body examination to be completed within 5 min, thus minimizing time to diagnosis and the institution of definitive clinical care. Current imaging algorithms that include abdominal ultrasonography and plain radiographic studies need to be reassessed in view of the technical advances in CT diagnosis, but should ultimately depend on the particular imaging capabilities and experience of a given trauma center.