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.