▪ Introduction Thoracic injury is a common sequela of acute trauma and is the third most common injury in trauma patients, after head and extremity injuries. The overall mortality rate approaches 25%, with acute aortic, tracheobronchial, and cardiac injuries often…
▪ Introduction Thoracic interventions are performed for the diagnosis and treatment of focal lesions in the thorax. Image-guided percutaneous biopsy is used to obtain tissue for the diagnosis of benign and malignant conditions. Drainage of fluid or air from the…
■ Lung Transplantation Since the first lung transplantation was performed in 1963, there have been major improvements in the surgical technique and posttransplantation management of organ recipients. Lung transplantation represents the only effective therapeutic option for many patients with advanced…
■ Introduction More than 8 million Americans each year present to the emergency department (ED) with acute chest pain. This poses a diagnostic challenge to physicians, who must distinguish patients with life-threatening conditions, including acute coronary syndrome (ACS), aortic dissection,…
■ Value of a Routine Daily Chest Radiograph in the Intensive Care Unit Determining Who Needs Imaging Imaging of an intensive care unit (ICU) patient can be a difficult task that relies on cooperation and teamwork among many members of…
■ Anatomy and Normal Appearance on Imaging The pericardium is a fibrous sac that surrounds the heart and is composed of two distinct layers: the visceral pericardium and parietal pericardium. The visceral pericardium is the inner serous layer that consists…
■ Introduction Echocardiography is the primary imaging modality used in the evaluation of cardiac valve morphology, function, and disease. This modality is broadly available and portable, and there is widespread clinical familiarity with the performance and interpretation of this modality.…
■ Central Airway Anatomy and Physiology: Essentials for the Radiologist Anatomy The trachea is a cartilaginous and fibromuscular conduct extending from the lower border of the larynx (2 cm below the vocal cords, at the level of spinal C6) to the…
▪ Pleural Anatomy The pleura is a stroma supported by the mesothelial lining of the thoracic cavity. It is composed of two layers: an inner visceral pleura and an outer parietal pleura. The visceral pleura lines the lungs and their…
▪ Mediastinal Lesions Although it may not be difficult to identify a mediastinal mass on cross-sectional imaging, it can be challenging to determine its nature. Diagnostic specificity is critical to prevent unnecessary intervention and its associated morbidity and expenditure. The…