[Post-traumatic pulmonary hematomas and pneumatoceles].

The x-ray morphology of posttraumatic intrapulmonary haematomas and pneumatoceles is described on the basis of 12 cases in a total of 211 patients with blunt thoracic traumas. The article also reports on the course of these haematomas and pneumatoceles. The problem of the development of a barotrauma through PEEP ventilation is discussed, taking the clinical courses into consideration. A characteristic feature of all the discussed cases was the tendency to spontaneous regression as well as continuous decrease in size roentgenologically; this enabled safe differential diagnosis against other cystic pulmonary changes.