Traumatic pulmonary pseudocysts and paramediastinal air cyst: two rare complications of blunt chest trauma.

Traumatic pulmonary pseudocysts and paramediastinal air cysts due to closed chest trauma are very uncommon. Minor clinical symptoms and major radiologic signs are characteristic of this form of injury to the lung parenchyma. Treatment of combined pseudocysts and pneumatocele in a 17-year-old girl is described. Chest X-ray and computed tomography provided the diagnosis. No surgical treatment was required. Intensive bronchial toilet and PEEP-assisted respiration by mask were followed by recovery. This condition must be differentiated from lung abscesses after infected hematomas, specific cavities, or congenital pulmonary cysts.