Letter From the Guest Editor

T HE VALUE OF diagnostic imaging in the management of the acute trauma victim

has been increasingly appreciated during the last decade. Computed tomography (CT) has come to play an indispensible role in the manage- ment of patients with blunt abdominal/pelvic trauma through both initial identification of injuries and follow-up assessment after either operative or nonoperative management. Al- though plain radiographs remain the principle imaging tool for acute assessment of thoracic injury, CT can identify many injuries that radiog- raphy is relatively insensitive to and may clarify confusing plain radiographic findings in some cases. Over the last decade, angiography has been used less extensively than formerly for initial identification of intraabdominal injury but maintains an important role in the identifi-

cation and management of patients with active abdominal or pelvic hemorrhage. This issue of Seminars in Roentgenology is devoted to the imaging diagnosis and management of abdomi- nal/pelvic injuries resulting from blunt trauma. The authors review the typical imaging appear- ances of traumatic pathology encountered within the abdomen/pelvis and address some of the controversial issues related to this topic. The material presented in this issue represents expe- rience derived exclusively at the Shock-Trauma Center of the University of Maryland Medical Center and our views reflect our current prac- tice within that institution.

Stuart E. Mirvis, MD Guest Editor

146 seminars in Roentgenology, Vol XXVII, NO 3 (JuIY), 1992: p 146