Will computed tomography (CT) miss something? The characteristics and pitfalls of torso CT in evaluating patients with blunt solid organ trauma

Abstract

Discovery of missed diagnoses is not uncommon in patients who sustain severe trauma. Laparotomy revealed all of the missed diagnoses, and follow-up CT demonstrated a poor ability to detect unidentified injuries. We suggest laparotomy instead of follow-up CT in the nonoperative management of patients with blunt solid organ injuries if clinical deterioration occurs.