Lung alterations in thoracic trauma.

The most important lung alterations associated with blunt trauma are contusion, laceration, and diffuse alveolar damage. The first two are the direct consequences of injury to the chest, while the third is the indirect result of thoracic or nonthoracic trauma. In addition to these three conditions, there are a number of epiphenomena and less common posttrauma abnormalities that are important to the radiologist involved in the care of injured patients.