Journal of Practical Radiology 2010;26(4):492-495

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-1671.2010.04.009

Imaging Findings of Lung Injury after Seawater Submersion: A Report of 12 Cases

Yongxin XIAO ; Weidong SHI ; Xianyong SUN ; Shixiang SHAO ; Wei CHEN ; Yuehua FENG ; Changjie DONG

Keywords

lung; submerison; radiography; tomography,X-ray computed

Country

China

Language

Chinese

Abstract

Objective To investigate imaging findings of lung injury after seawater drowning.Methods The imaging data in 12 cases with seawater drowning treated in our hospital in the past 8 years were analyzed retrospectively.Results After 2 to 12 hours of leaving the water,the initial chest X-ray examinations or CT scans were taken.The initial X-ray films displayed the lung markings increase,the small patch shadows or wide distribution patch shadows.CT showd large ground-glass density,diffuse patchy or flocculus shadows and different degress of emphysema in bilateral lung.Most of the foci were absorbed obviously in 1 to 3 days.In 1 case,the focus formed pulmonary abscess later.Conclusion X-ray and CT examinations can clearly show the severity and changes of lung damage in seawater submersion victims,and that can provide important informations for clinical diagnosis and treatment.