Radiation diagnostics of thoracic gunshot wounds

The frequency of thoracic injuries in the general structure of combat surgical trauma remains at the level of 7-12 % and unchanged from the time of the Second World War to the current armed conflicts. The overwhelming majority of them (up to 72 %) are shrapnel gunshot wounds. The formation of a gunshot wound occurs due to the action of a shock wave; a wounding projectile; energy of side impact and vortex wake. The shape, size, features of the wound canal are determined by the kinetic energy of the wounding agent and the physical properties of the damaged tissues. The lung parenchyma is loose and elastic, so small-caliber bullets with low energy cause minimal damage. The wound canal is well differentiated on CT-slices. Its cavity is filled with blood, fragments of destroyed tissue, air bubbles. On the periphery, the contusion zone is determined (area of increased attenuation in the lung-ground-glass opacity). Shrapnel wounds can be accompanied by ruptures of the pulmonary parenchyma with hemorrhages, bilateral pulmonary contusion, damage to the bone frame and soft tissues of the chest. Vascular injury with massive hemorrhage into the pleural cavity and tense hemopneumothorax are one of the main causes of mortality in penetrating wounds. Transmediastinal gunshot wounds, armor trauma and bullet embolism require special attention during radiation examination of victims. The purpose of radiation diagnostics of modern combat trauma is to identify and fully characterize injuries and their complications. The amount of diagnostic information is determined by the level of medical care. Key words: gunshot wounds, chest cavity organs, radiation diagnostics.