[Blunt thoracic trauma--therapeutic relevance of results of roentgen image, ultrasound and computerized tomography].

In 60 patients with severe thoracic trauma the diagnostic procedures--X-ray of the chest, sonography and thoracic computed tomography (CT)--were reviewed for their incidence of finding all injuries. X-ray of the chest often failed to detect lung contusion and injuries in the mediastinal space. Four of five ruptures of the diaphragm were incidental findings on the occasion of laparotomy because of intraabdominal bleeding.