Circumscribed Intrapulmonary Haematoma

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Abstract
1. Nine cases of circumscribed intrapulmonary haematoma have been described in the literature. Six further cases are reported. 2. Pulmonary contusion and haematoma formation appear to be more common than is generally recognised. 3. The higher incidence of haematoma formation in young people is related to: (a) Increased exposure to trauma. (b) Greater elasticity of the thoracic cage. 4. Circumscribed intrapulmonary haematoma may be caused by pulmonary artery rupture or by bronchial artery thrombosis. Reasons are advanced in support of this. 5. Awareness of the occurrence and natural history of these lesions and the judicious use of tomography and lateral decubitus films using a horizontal beam, may help to avoid some exploratory thoracotomies.