Pulmonary laceration

Discussion:

A pulmonary laceration results from frank laceration of lung parenchyma secondary to trauma. There is almost always concurrent contusion.

Classification

  • type I - compression rupture
  • type II - compression shear
  • type III - direct puncture / rib penetration
  • type IV - adhesion tears

CT usually demonstates regions of pulmonary contusion with added blebs (pneumatocoeles or haemato pneumatoceles) with air fluid levels.  

Due to normal pulmonary elastic recoil, lung tissues surrounding a laceration often pull back from the laceration itself. This results in the laceration manifesting at CT as a round or oval cavity, instead of having the linear appearance typically seen in other solid organs.

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