Acute rupture of the diaphragm due to blunt trauma: diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of CT.

Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of CT in detecting acute rupture of the diaphragm after blunt trauma.Abdominal CT scans taken before surgery of 11 patients with diaphragmatic rupture (eight left and three right) and 21 patients with intact diaphragms after major acute blunt abdominal trauma were independently reviewed by three observers who were unaware of surgical findings. Retrospective note was made of diaphragmatic discontinuity, intrathoracic herniation of abdominal contents, waistlike constriction of bowel ("collar sign"), and associated findings. Right and left hemidiaphragms were graded as intact or ruptured, and these findings were correlated with surgical findings. Individual and average observer sensitivity and specificity in detecting acute diaphragmatic rupture were calculated.Of the 11 cases of diaphragmatic rupture, diaphragmatic discontinuity was seen in eight, visceral herniation was seen in six, and the "collar sign" was seen in four ...

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