Demographics:
23 years old, Male
Indication:
Trauma
Findings
Chest radiograph
- Focal opacification at the right lung base
- Cortical irregularity of the posterolateral right ninth rib
- No pneumothorax
- Mild right chest wall subcutaneous emphysema with metallic radiodensities overlying the right upper quadrant of the abdomen
CT
Chest
- Extensive right lower lobe pulmonary laceration with surrounding airspace consolidation and groundglass opacification as well as formation of traumatic pneumatoceles
- Small right hemopneumothorax
Abdomen/Pelvis
- No acute findings
- Subcentimeter hypodense structure arising within the upper pole of the left kidney is too small to characterize
MSK
- Acute comminuted right posterolateral ninth rib fracture with adjacent subcutaneous emphysema
- Retained tiny ballistic fragments between the bullet entry and exit sites along the right posterolateral inferior chest wall
Diagnosis
Traumatic pneumatocele
Sample Report
Sequela of gunshot wound to the lower posterolateral right chest wall with extensive right lower lobe pulmonary laceration and traumatic pneumatocele formation.
Surrounding pulmonary hemorrhage and contusion.
Small right hemopneumothorax.
Acute comminuted right posterolateral ninth rib fracture with overlying subcutaneous emphysema and ballistic fragments along the bullet track.
Discussion