Extrapleural hematoma as an unexpected finding on a follow-up chest X-ray after coronary surgery

Konen, O; Hertz, M; Klein, H.O; Konen, E; Zissin, R

Next »European Journal of Radiology
Volume 44, Issue 3 , Pages 225-227, December 2002

Extrapleural hematoma as an unexpected finding on a follow-up chest X-ray after coronary surgery

O Konen
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Sapir Medical Center, affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Corresponding author. Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Sapir Medical Center, Kfar Saba 44281, Israel. Tel.: +972-9-7471512; fax: +972-9-7461465
M Hertz
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
H.O Klein
- Department of Cardiology, Sapir Medical Center, affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
E Konen
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
R Zissin
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Sapir Medical Center, affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

Received 19 October 2001; received in revised form 27 December 2001; accepted 28 December 2001.

Abstract

We present two cases of an extrapleural hematoma, on a follow-up chest X-ray after coronary artery bypass surgery using an internal mammary artery (IMA). In both cases, the finding was disclosed on a routine chest film obtained 1 month post-operatively, in a patient who was either asymptomatic or had nonspecific symptoms. Follow-up chest films showed spontaneous resolution in both patients. We emphasize the recognition and significance of such a self-limited post-operative radiological finding.

Keywords: Chest wall, hematoma, Coronary bypass, Computed tomography, Chest radiography