- Etiology: blunt abdominal trauma due to increase in intraabdominal or intrathoracic pressure with tear typically being large and in posterolateral hemidiaphragm which is site of embryonic fusion, iatrogenic injury during thoracic or abdominal surgery
- CXR: lower chest arch-like soft tissue opacity / unusual density / gas bubbles, atelectasis, pleural effusion, mediastinal shift, nasogastric tube in chest, herniated abdominal organs in chest
- CT: collar sign with waist-like constriction of herniated viscera, dependent viscera sign of abdominal viscera faling dependently in posterior chest, blood on both sides of diaphragm without obvious abdominal injury
- Imaging: inability to trace hemidiaphragm, elevation of hemidiaphragm, intrathoracic herniation of stomach / colon (most common on left) or liver (most common on right)
- Clinical: left > right due to protective effect of liver, often not recognized at time of trauma
Radiology Cases of Diaphragmatic Rupture
Radiology Cases of Post Traumatic Diaphragmatic Rupture

Radiology Cases of Post Operative Diaphragmatic Rupture
