MR imaging evaluation of the postoperative meniscus.

MR imaging has been widely evaluated in the assessment of patients with recurrent or residual symptoms following meniscal surgery. Importantly, the causes of such symptoms may relate to failure or complication of the surgical procedure, a possible recurrent or residual meniscal tear, or may be related to other causes of joint symptoms, including tears of the contralateral meniscus, or local hyaline cartilage, or marrow abnormalities subjacent to or distant to the meniscal surgical site. The complex diagnostic issues involved in the MR imaging evaluation of the postoperative meniscus were identified in early MR imaging studies. The knowledge of the normal MR imaging appearance of the knee after the more common repair procedures will allow radiologists to recognize complications associated with such procedures. In this article, we discuss the MR imaging evaluation of the knee after meniscal surgery.

Retrospective study of 23 cases of hepatic infarction: CT findings and pathological correlations.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to retrospectively review the cases of hepatic infarction diagnosed at our institute using conventional, spiral and multislice computed tomography (CT) over the last decade in order to describe its morphological and density characteristics and define its possible etiopathogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three consecutive patients aged 27-65 years with hepatic infarction were studied by CT at our institute over a period of about 10 years. A conventional CT unit was used in seven patients, a helical CT scanner in ten and a multislice CT in six. CT was performed before and after the administration of 130-150 cc of contrast material infused at a rate of 3-3.5 ml/s. RESULTS: CT showed hepatic infarction due to arterial causes in 19 cases, 11 of which were in liver transplant patients. The infarction was related to right hepatic artery embolisation to control haemorrhage (one case), chemoembolisation of a multifocal hepatocarcinoma in a cirrhotic liver (one case), arterial mesenteric infarction due to thromboembolism (two cases), necrotising pancreatitis (one case), surgery in pancreatic cancer invading the hepatic artery (one case), pancreaticoduodenectomy (two cases), portal thrombosis in a young woman with pregnancy-related clotting disorder (one case), haemolytic anaemia, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome (one case); eclampsia and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) (one case) and acute exacerbation of Budd-Chiari syndrome (one case). At CT scans, hepatic infarction was depicted as a hypodense parenchymal area, at times triangular in shape, with sharp peripheral contours (12 cases) or as a rounded central or marginal area (four cases) with irregular appearance (three cases), with lobar extension (two cases) and ill-defined shape (two cases). Moreover, CT showed intralesional gas not correlated to bacterial infection (two cases). In all surgical cases, the results were confirmed by pathology. CONCLUSIONS: CT is the method of choice in the diagnosis of hepatic infarction, providing useful information regarding site, morphology, and extent of the lesion. Furthermore, in most cases, CT is able to suggest the possible aetiology and guide appropriate management.

[Small bowell volvulus - combined radiological findings]. / Volvolo dell'intestino tenue - diagnostica radiologica integrata.

PURPOSE: We retrospectively evaluated the radiological findings observed at plain abdominal film, abdominal sonography and abdominal CT performed in 66 patients with surgically proven small bowel volvulus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-six patients (35 women and 31 men, ranging in age 38-77 years) with surgically proven small bowel volvulus were submitted to plain film, sonography and CT of the abdomen. Abdominal plain film was performed in the upright position (postero-anterior view) in 46 cases, and in the supine position in 20 cases. On plain abdominal film we evaluated the following findings: bowel loops dilatation, air-fluid levels and site of obstruction. At abdominal US, performed with 3.5 e 7.5 MHz probes, we retrospectively searched for: bowel loop dilatation, bowel wall thickening, peristalsis alteration, extraluminal fluid. CT was performed with a helical unit (thickness 4 mm, reconstruction interval 4 mm, pitch 1.5), after intravenous contrast agent (120 ml) infusion (3 ml/s, 55 s acquisition delay from bolus starting) and using a power injector. The following CT findings were searched for: whirl sign, beak sign, extraluminal fluid, bowel loop dilatation, bowel wall thickening, bowel wall or mesenteric alterations. RESULTS: Plain abdominal film showed the following findings: air-fluid levels (92.4% of cases), bowel loops dilatation (71.2%), site of obstruction (42.4%). Abdominal sonography demonstrated bowel loop dilatation (48.5%), extraluminal fluid (48.5%), peristalsis alteration (27.3%), bowel wall thickening (27.3%). The most frequent CT findings were: bowel loop dilatation (95.5%), bowel wall thickening (78.8%), beak sign (69.7%), mesenteric alterations (66.7%), extraluminal fluid (54.5%), whirl sign (13.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Air-fluid levels and bowel loop dilatation were the most frequent radiological findings in our series. Plain abdominal film allowed us to identify signs of obstruction, whereas signs of bowel wall necrosis were accurately shown by abdominal CT.

[Helical CT as preferred imaging modality in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism]. / La tomografia computerizzata spirale come esame diagnostico di riferimento nella tromboembolia polmonare.

PURPOSE: We investigated the role of Helical Computed Tomography (CT) as primary screening imaging modality in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolic disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the CT examinations, resulted positive for pulmonary embolism, performed in 134 patients (69 men and 65 women, ranging in age 23-83 years) from June 1998 to June 1999. CT was performed with a helical unit (thickness 3 mm, reconstruction interval 2 mm, pitch 1.5) after intravenous contrast agent (120 mL) rapid infusion (4 mL/s, 15s acquisition delay from bolus starting) and using a power injector. The spiral acquisition was performed from the apex of the pulmonary trunk to the diaphragm. Pulmonary embolism was considered as complete when a filling defect was present in a main pulmonary artery, as moderate when a filling defect was observed in an interlobar pulmonary artery and as very small when a filling defect was identified in a segmental pulmonary artery. RESULTS: Helical CT allowed us to identify the presence of a filling defect in the main pulmonary artery in 60.4% of cases (complete pulmonary embolism), in an interlobar pulmonary artery in 27.6% of cases (moderate pulmonary embolism) and in a segmental pulmonary artery in 11.9% of cases (very small pulmonary embolism). At helical CT study, pulmonary embolus was identified as complete filling defect (92.5% of cases), thromboembolic mass floating freely in the lumen (28.3%) and partial filling defect (19.4%). Pleural effusion and pulmonary infarction were associated in 46.2% and 20.1% respectively. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary embolic disease continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The clinical diagnosis of pulmonary embolism remains an important challenge: among the different imaging modalities, contrast-enhanced helical CT can be used as primary screening imaging modality in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, allowing us to detect the presence of pulmonary embolus in the main, lobar and segmental artery, as demonstrated in our experience.

[Upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage of unusual etiology: clinical case and technical note]. / Emorragia digestiva alta da causa rara: caso clinico e note di tecnica.

The Authors report a case of upper digestive tract haemorrhage at atypical side, the diagnosis being often difficult as well as therapeutical options, particularly referent to the surgical solutions adopted.

[Spiral computed tomography in the assessment of vascular lesions of the pelvis due to blunt trauma]. / Contributo della Tomografia Computerizzata spirale nella valutazione delle lesioni vascolari della pelvi da trauma chiuso.

PURPOSE: We investigated the role of Helical Computed Tomography (CT) in the evaluation of low or high flow vascular injuries in patients with blunt pelvic trauma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From May 1998 to December 1999, forty-nine patients (32 men and 17 women, ranging in age 14-59 years) with acute symptoms from blunt pelvic trauma were submitted to Computed Tomography (CT). A conventional radiography of the pelvis had been performed in all cases. CT was performed with a helical unit (thickness 8 mm, reconstruction interval 8 mm, pitch 1.5) after intravenous contrast agent (150-180 mL) rapid infusion (4-5 mL/s, 60 s acquisition delay from bolus starting) and using a power injector. A second spiral acquisition was performed in all cases from the iliac roofs to the inferior border of the pubic symphysis. Vascular hemorrhage was considered as low flow when the hematoma appeared as a focal homogeneous density area and as high flow when associated with contrast agent extravasation. Moreover, traumatic assessment included evaluation of the hematoma, of the leakage site and of the involved vessel. RESULTS: Radiologic examination of the pelvis revealed fractures in 35/49 patients (71.4%). Helical CT allowed us to identify low flow hemorrhage in 37 patients, affected with hematomas from fracture of the iliac wing or of the sacrum (14 cases), tear of the pelvic (3 cases) or extrapelvic (4 cases) muscular structures, or injury of the venous plexus (20 cases). In four patients two vascular injuries were detected. High flow hemorrhage was seen in 12 patients, who had Helical CT findings of contrast agent extravasation along the common iliac vein (3 cases), external iliac artery (3 cases), internal iliac artery (4 cases), internal pudendal artery (1 case), obturator artery (1 case), inferior epigastric artery (2 cases), superior gluteal artery (2 cases), inferior gluteal artery (1 case), cremasteric artery (1 case). In 6 patients with high flow hemorrhage, two vascular injuries were shown. In all these patients, an extraperitoneal hematoma was associated with the contrast agent extravasation. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Fractures of the pelvic ring generally result from severe trauma. Management of these injuries must include not only treatment of the skeletal trauma but also of the associated shock and complications. Major blood loss usually occurs as a result of bleeding from the branches of the internal iliac artery. With respect to pelvic plain radiography, CT provides superior detailing of fractures, position of fracture fragments and extent of diastasis of the sacroiliac joints and pubic symphysis. Moreover CT provides diagnostic information regarding the presence or absence of pelvic bleeding and can identify the site of bleeding. In our experience, Helical CT allows us to distinguish high flow hemorrhage, where vascular injuries must be treated first, from low flow hemorrhage which can be managed differently.

[The role of spiral computed tomography in sigmoid diverticulitis and the diagnostic-therapeutic implications]. / Ruolo della Tomorafia Computerizzata spirale nella diverticolite del sigma e implicazioni diagnostico-terapeutiche.

PURPOSE: Colonic diverticula are saccules made of colonic mucosa and submucosa that herniate from the colonic lumen through the muscular layer of the wall where straight vessels penetrate. Diverticula are localized in the sigmoid colon in 95% of cases. Bacteria pooling in the lumen may cause lumen erosion and eventually perforation. CT is a useful technique in this condition because it can demonstrate intra- and/or extramural inflammation. Aim of this retrospective study was to assess the capabilities of contrast-enhanced helical Computed Tomography (CT) in sigmoid diverticulitis, especially relative to selection of the appropriate treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the findings of 41 patients referred to our emergency department for diverticulitis. CT scans were performed 65 seconds after i.v. injection of nonionic contrast material (3 mL/s, 120 mL in all) administered by a CT-power injector. The following 7 CT findings were considered at least suggestive of acute diverticulitis: focal wall thickening, intramural abscess, inflammatory changes in the sigmoid mesentery root, pericolic fat inflammation or pericolic abscess formation, fistula, peritonitis. CT results were compared with surgical and physical findings. RESULTS: Based on CT findings, diverticulitis was classified as mild (25 patients) or severe (15 patients). In mild diverticulitis we found: focal sigmoid wall thickening (6 patients), intramural abscess (3 patients), sigmoid mesentery root thickening (5 patients), edema fluid (8 patients) and phlegmon (3 patients). In severe diverticulitis we found: sigmoid mesentery abscess (6 patients), fistula (5 patients) and peritonitis (4 patients). CT findings were questionable in 1 case and thus we could not exclude a perforated carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced helical CT is the imaging modality of choice in assessing mild or severe acute diverticulitis because it provides useful information for appropriate treatment planning in the emergency setting. This technique is most useful in questionable cases and in patients with suspected severe diverticulitis where a choice must be made between different treatment options.

[Diagnostic sensitivity of computerized tomography in closed trauma of the diaphragm. Retrospective study of 35 consecutive cases]. / Sensibilità diagnostica della tomografia computerizzata nei traumi chiusi del diaframma. Studio retrospettivo di 35 casi consecutivi.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness and role of CT in blunt diaphragmatic injuries by reviewing our 8-year experience. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed the preoperative CT findings of 35 patients with surgically confirmed diaphragmatic rupture. Surgical repair was performed in the acute setting (within 12 hours of trauma) in 22 cases, and late (8 months-5 years) in 13 cases. Twenty-eight patients (80%) were examined with conventional CT and 7 (20%) with Helical CT. Scans were initiated at the thoracic inlet to the pubic symphysis, with 8-mm slice thickness, after i.v. contrast agent administration. Four-mm slices were acquired in the region of interest; sagittal and coronal reformations were obtained for Helical CT images. RESULTS: In the acute group, 20 patients had left hemidiaphragmatic and 2 right hemidiaphragmatic rupture; thoracic herniation of the abdominal organs was seen in all cases. Of the 13 patients examined long after trauma, the left hemidiaphragm was ruptured in 12 cases (with visceral herniation in 4), and the right hemidiaphragm in 1, with no herniation. The diaphragmatic rent was found in the dome (15 cases, 43%), musculotendinous junction (11 cases, 31%), muscular portion (8 cases, 23%), and at the muscular attachments on the ribs (1 case, 3%). CT diagnosed diaphragmatic rupture in all the acute cases (22/35 patients, 63%) and in 4 patients with visceral herniation (11%) examined long after trauma. CT findings were questionable in the 9 cases (25%) not presenting visceral herniation. As for the site of diaphragmatic injury, CT never depicted the diaphragmatic rent in the dome and at the musculotendinous junction (74%), not even with thin slices and the multiplanar Helical technique. CT detected indirects signs of injury at the muscular portion (23%), showing the injury site directly in the case with diaphragmatic avulsion (3%). CONCLUSION: CT is a reliable tool in the diagnosis of suspected diaphragmatic injury in the acute trauma setting. Long after trauma, CT performs poorly because it depicts the diaphragmatic rent only in some peripheral traumas. Helical CT has greater diagnostic potentials, but the injury site and type do affect its capabilities.

[Traumatic liver injuries: advances in diagnostic and therapeutic methods]. / Lesioni traumatiche del fegato: evoluzione delle strategie diagnostico-terapeutiche.

One hundred five patients affected by traumatic rupture of the liver were admitted in the Emergency Surgical Unit at Ospedale "A. Cardarelli" in Napoli over a period of five years. In 40 patients a conservative treatment was applied, monitoring red blood count, and haemoglobin values as well as abdominal ultrasound and CT scans. The remaining 65 patients underwent surgery for liver trauma. Twelve out of 65 patients presented with an hepatic injury alone whereas in 53 liver injury was associated with other lesions, as splenic rupture, kidney hematoma, bone fracture, chest trauma, diaphragmatic or cranial injury. Eleven out of 65 patients underwent postoperative complications such as bile collection (nine) and biliary fistula (two); however, none of these complicated patients died or underwent further surgery. On the basis of their data the Authors conclude that a careful preoperative assessment and the monitoring of haemodynamic pattern are advisable in patients with liver trauma, allowing the choice of a conservative treatment whenever possible. In the patients undergoing surgical treatment, a more conservative approach should be advocated, with a wider use of intraparenchymal haemostasis and packing, both to improve the haemodynamic status and to refer the patient to specialized units.

Spontaneous splenic rupture in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia of Burkitt type.

We describe a case of spontaneous splenic rupture occurred in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia of Burkitt type before starting cytotoxic chemotherapy. Left hypochondrial pain radiating to the homolateral shoulder was the only clinical symptom. Emergency computed tomography showed splenic laceration and hemoperitoneum. The patient underwent immediate laparatomy with splenectomy and experienced an uneventful postoperative recovery. Eight days after surgery, chemotherapy could be administered and complete remission was achieved. Although spontaneous rupture of the spleen is rare in leukemia and related disorders, this diagnosis should be taken in account also when clinical symptoms are mild. Following immediate operative management, patients may completely recover and receive cytotoxic chemotherapy with substantial possibilities of achieving complete remission.

[Budd-Chiari syndrome: retrospective study of 8 cases assessed with computerized tomography]. / Sindrome di Budd-Chiari: studio retrospettivo di otto casi esaminati con Tomografia Computerizzata.

PURPOSE: Budd-Chiari syndrome is a rare disease due to the obstruction of hepatic veins and, sometimes, of the inferior vena cava. The disease, whose etiopathogenesis is often unproven, may show acute or chronic clinical course with different features at pathology. We carried out a retrospective study of 8 consecutive patients with the Budd-Chiari syndrome to assess the diagnostic role of CT and to define the main patterns of the disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our patient population consisted of 8 women with clinical and instrumental suspicion of Budd-Chiari syndrome. Three patients had acute and 5 chronic clinical presentation: the former had had acute symptoms right after delivery, while one of the latter was referred to oral contraceptive abuse, another was diagnosed 18 months after delivery and finally the cause was not known in the other 3 cases. CT was performed with contiguous slices (8 mm) of the upper abdomen, before and after i.v. contrast agent infusion. Liver images were always acquired 15-20 minutes after contrast agent administration. RESULTS: In the acute patients, CT showed increased liver volume, diffuse parenchymal hypodensity in unenhanced scans, except for some skip areas (segments I and IV, paracaval parenchyma) and strong postcontrast enhancement. Thrombosis of the suprahepatic veins was found in all patients and partial thrombosis of the inferior vena cava in one. Abundant peritoneal effusion was always found. In the chronic patients, CT showed caudate lobe and left lobe hypertrophy, mostly associated with right lobe hypo-atrophy. Moreover the hypertrophic areas showed bright and inhomogeneous contrast enhancement, with a reversed pattern at 15-20 minutes postcontrast. Thrombosis of the suprahepatic veins was found in 3 patients and partial thrombosis of the inferior vena cava in one. Peritoneal effusion was seen in 2 cases. CONCLUSIONS: The Budd-Chiari syndrome causes anatomical, morphological and volumetric changes in the hepatic parenchyma which are referrable to difficult venous flow and differ in acute vs chronic forms. CT permits to grade liver involvement by the organ's morphodensitometric changes, which are once again different in the acute vs the chronic disease. Moreover, thrombosis of suprahepatic veins and of the inferior vena cava and portal vein is often demonstrated. Therefore CT can be considered a valid diagnostic tool for use in the patients with suspected Budd-Chiari syndrome together with B-mode and color Doppler US.

[Gallbladder blunt trauma: comparison between radiologic and anatomo-surgical findings]. / Traumi chiusi della colecisti: confronto tra reperti radiologici e anatomo-chirurgici.

PURPOSE: To assess the diagnostic accuracy and the possible role of ultrasonography (US) and Computed Tomography (CT) in a small group of patients who had a blunt abdominal trauma involving the gallbladder. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the US and CT findings of five patients with surgically confirmed post-traumatic gallbladder injury. The whole series consisted of 196 consecutive patients submitted to laparotomy for blunt abdominal trauma in the past 7 years. The following US and CT findings were considered at least suggestive of a possible post-traumatic gallbladder injury: pericholecystic fluid collection, ill-defined wall margin, collapsed lumen, high intraluminal density. RESULTS: At surgery, the following findings were observed: gallbladder hematoma (1 case), acute colecystitis (1 cases), gallbladder tear (3 cases), gallbladder tear associated with post-traumatic hepatic injuries (2 cases), duodenal tear (2 cases), hemoperitoneum alone (2 cases), hemoperitoneum associated with choleperitoneum (1 case), choleperitoneum alone (1 case). The US and CT findings were pericholecystic fluid collections (4 cases), ill-defined gallbladder wall margins (3 cases), collapsed lumen with intraluminal high density (1 case) and free intraperitoneal fluid collections (4 cases). They were suggestive of a possible post-traumatic gallbladder injury in all the five patients. CONCLUSIONS: The radiologic findings of our five patients were suggestive of a gallbladder damage but did not permit to distinguish minor from major injuries, the latter requiring surgical treatment. US proves to be a useful screening tool which can also help timing surgery in these patients. CT confirmed the US suspicions and also permitted accurate assessment of associated post-traumatic injuries to the liver and duodenum. Nevertheless, the clinical presentation was the most important factor as to the therapeutic management of these blunt abdominal trauma patients.

[Computed tomography in the diagnosis of posttraumatic pancreatic lesions]. / La Tomografia Computerizzata nella diagnosi delle lesioni post-traumatiche del pancreas.

CT is currently the most accurate technique to study pancreatic parenchyma traumas. We examined six patients with pancreatic injuries due to a car crash in five cases and to a gunshot in one using a 3rd generation CT unit with 8- and 4-mm slices in the upper abdomen and pancreas, respectively; a contrast agent was administered i.v. US was performed with a 3.5 MHz sectorial probe. The correct diagnosis was made by CT alone in five cases, while US had already suspected isthmus trauma in one case and CT confirmed it. One critical patient was submitted to emergency laparotomy without preoperative CT or US, but CT was used for postoperative follow-up. CT showed partial isthmus laceration in one of three patients submitted to conservative treatment and a body-tail laceration in the others. CT showed complete isthmus laceration in three surgical patients and a tail injury in the gunshot patient; the third patient had already undergone duodenocephalopancreatectomy and was therefore only followed-up. In our experience, CT is the most valuable tool to study pancreatic traumas because it is a fast and noninvasive method and shows pancreatic parenchyma better than US. Moreover, CT is useful also to monitor the possible complications of pancreatic trauma and to follow-up surgical patients.

[Computerized tomography of osteochondral diseases of the talus dome]. / La Tomografia Computerizzata nella valutazione delle malattie osteocondrali della cupola astragalica.

The definition "osteochondritis dissecans" of the talus improperly includes a variety of diseases involving the chondral surface of the talus dome and the relative subchondral bone. To investigate the CT diagnostic potentials in the study of these conditions, 35 patients complaining of a "painful ankle" were examined with plain radiography and axial and direct paracoronal CT over a 2-year period. Twelve patients were then examined with double contrast CT arthrography with air and iodated contrast agents. CT diagnostic accuracy was assessed evaluating the following parameters: the presence and extent of the subchondral bone fragment, the presence of residual bone fragment attachment at the lesion base or its intraarticular dislocation, the presence of subchondral bone cysts, of chondral surface lesions and, finally, of capsular and ligamentous damage. All the patients with CT findings of osteochondral conditions of the talus dome were submitted to arthroscopic examination/treatment and/or surgical arthrotomy. Baseline CT exams accurately depicted all the lesions, except for early (grade I) lesions. Moreover, the administration of intraarticular contrast agent (CT arthrography) increased the diagnostic accuracy in articular cartilage studies. Therefore, the authors believe baseline CT on the orthogonal planes to represent an effective tool for the staging of osteochondral talar lesions and for accurate treatment planning.

[Blunt trauma of the larynx: comparative assessment of computerized tomography, conventional radiology, and laryngoscopy]. / Traumi chiusi della laringe: valutazione comparativa tra Tomografia Computerizzata, radiologia tradizionale e laringoscopia.

We report on the retrospective analysis of a series of 11 patients with blunt laryngeal injuries examined with Computed Tomography (CT), conventional radiology and laryngoscopy, to compare the diagnostic yield of each technique. Conventional frontal and lateral radiographs showed subcutaneous emphysema in 5 patients, with soft tissue swelling in 4, and thus failed to assess the degree of damage adequately. Cross-section CT showed cartilaginous injuries in 5 patients and adjacent soft tissue changes in 9, thus allowing rapid and accurate assessment of airway damage even in emergency. Laryngoscopy showed laryngeal mucosal tears in 3 patients, with decreased motion of the left true vocal cord in one patient and of both true vocal cords in another, associated with the upward dislocation of arytenoid cartilage. Moreover, laryngoscopy showed a mucosal tear in the hypopharynx in one patient. Comparative CT and laryngoscopy assessment showed, in two cases, that CT can demonstrate even minimal peripharyngeal and perilaryngeal air images which are suggestive of posttraumatic mucosal tears. Thus, CT appears the most valuable diagnostic tool to study the injured larynx.

[Diagnostic imaging of diaphragmatic trauma]. / Diagnostica per immagini dei traumi del diaframma.

PURPOSE: To assess the semiology, effectiveness and role of the modern diagnostic methods used to study diaphragmatic injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report our personal experience acquired in the last 4 years in 23 patients. Eighteen patients had blunt and 6 penetrating diaphragmatic trauma, 10 of them involving the right and 14 the left hemidiaphragm. Plain chest X-rays were performed in 19 cases, gastrointestinal (GI) barium studies in 2, US in 5 and CT in 21 cases. RESULTS: Plain chest films were normal in one case (5%), not specific in 6 (32%), suggestive in 7 (37%), and diagnostic in 5 (26%). Barium studies of the GI tract were diagnostic in both patients (100%). US was suggestive in one case (20%) and diagnostic in 4 (80%). CT was not specific in 4 cases (19%), suggestive in 8 (38%) and diagnostic in 9 (43%). CONCLUSIONS: Plain chest radiography remains the method of choice in the study of diaphragmatic injuries. US, in our still limited experience, seems to be the most accurate method in the direct demonstration of muscular traumas and should be performed more often in the study of diaphragmatic injuries. CT has poorer accuracy and, above all, shows only indirect signs, but it is fairly effective and plays a key role in the depiction of chest and abdominal traumas. Barium studies should be reserved, possibly, to the direct identification of digestive hernias, especially in the late phase.