Minor Blunt Thoracic Trauma in the Emergency Department: Sensitivity and Specificity of Chest Ultralow-Dose Computed Tomography Compared With Conventional Radiography

by | Sep 30, 2019 | 0 comments

Methodology: 2/5
Usefulness: 2.5/5

Macri F, Greffier J, Khasanova E, Claret PG, Bastide S, Larbi A, Bobbia X, Pereira FR, de la Coussaye JE, Beregi JP. Ann Emerg Med. 2019 Jun;73(6):665-670. 

Question and Methods: This 160-patient pilot study prospectively compared ultra-low dose CT chest and CXR to routine CT chest in minor blunt thoracic trauma patients.

Findings: ULD-CT chest was 100% sensitive and specific, with a similar degree of radiation exposure to CXR (0.203 vs. 0.175mSv; p=.14), and reasonable interobserver diagnostic reliability (kappa 0.88-1.00).

Limitations: The clinical importance of occult injuries was not evaluated and test characteristics of ULD-CT were calculated based on the interpretations of a single radiologist experienced in this modality.

Interpretation: More research is required to ascertain its benefit to patients, cost-effectiveness and external validity prior to incorporation into practice.

By: Dr. Nicholas Prudhomme

Author

  • Hans Rosenberg

    Dr. Rosenberg is an emergency physician at the Ottawa Hospital, assistant professor at the University of Ottawa, and Director of the Digital Scholarship and Knowledge Dissemination Program.

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