Blunt Thoracic Trauma
Blunt thoracic trauma is a common indication for hospital admission, with the predominant cause of trauma being motor vehicle collisions. The thorax is the fourth most injured area in unrestrained…
Postoperative Complications
A spectrum of cardiopulmonary diseases can be treated surgically. Surgical procedures in the thorax include lung resection, lung transplantation, cardiovascular and mediastinal surgery, as well as pleural and cavitary space…
Asbestos-Related Disease
Etiology Asbestos is the general term given to a group of magnesium silicate minerals that have in common a tendency to separate into fibers. The fibers are resistant to heat…
Bronchiectasis and Other Bronchial Abnormalities
Bronchiectasis Etiology Diseases of the airways are surprisingly common in clinical practice, and imaging tests have a central role in the evaluation of the patient. Bronchiectasis is an important yet,…
Therapeutic Radiation and Radiation-Induced Lung Disease
Radiation therapy is an important modality in the management of patients with intrathoracic malignant neoplasms and primary and secondary chest wall neoplasms. Radiation therapy for these tumors usually results in…
Bronchiolitis
Bronchiolitis refers to a wide variety of inflammatory and fibrotic disease processes affecting the small airways. Bronchiolitis is common and may be the primary manifestation in various clinical settings (e.g.,…
Aspiration
Aspiration refers to the misdirection of contents of the oral or upper gastrointestinal tract that have passed through the trachea and larynx and entered the lung. The diagnosis rests mostly…
Nonthrombotic Pulmonary Embolism
Fat Embolism Etiology, Prevalence, and Epidemiology The term fat embolism refers to the presence of globules of free fat within the pulmonary vasculature. Fat embolism is common among trauma patients,…
Hydrostatic Pulmonary Edema
Etiology Pulmonary edema is defined as an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the extravascular compartments (interstitial and airspace) of the lung. Traditionally, pulmonary edema has been divided into hydrostatic edema…
Acute Pulmonary Embolism *
Etiology Pulmonary embolism (PE) refers to blood clot(s) within the pulmonary arterial system, usually caused by migration of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) from the lower extremities. Rarely, emboli are from…
