Traumatic pulmonary pseudocyst. Report of twelve cases.

Twelve cases of traumatic pulmonary pseudocyst were seen between January 1966 and July 1987 at Saiseikai Kanagawaken Hospital. The cause of the traumatic pulmonary pseudocyst was closed blunt chest trauma in all patients. For the first few days after the injury, computed tomographic scan was more useful in diagnosis than chest roentogenogram. Tube drainage of the pleural cavity was performed in 10 patients who had hemothorax or hemopneumothorax, and antibiotics were administered to all patients. No patient underwent a surgical procedure, and all traumatic pulmonary pseudocysts eventually resolved, without any specific treatment, within 1 to 4 months (average 1.8 month) after the trauma. We conclude that pulmonary resection is not indicated except in the rare instance in which the traumatic pulmonary pseudocyst becomes infected.