Near drowning: Thin-section CT findings in six patients

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the thin-section CT findin gs of near drowning in six patients. Method: Thin-section (1 mm collimation) CT scans of six patients who experi enced near drowning were retrospectively analyzed. The CT scans were perfor med 0-5 days (median 1 day) after near drowning. Results: Thin-section CT findings included bilateral patchy or diffuse area s of ground-glass attenuation (n = 6) with geographic pattern (n = 3) and f ine intralobular reticular opacities ("crazy-paving" appearance) (n = 3), i ll-defined centrilobular nodules (n = 4), and air-space consolidation (n = 1). Distribution of ground-glass attenuation was predominantly central (n = 4) or diffuse (n = 2). Interstitial pulmonary emphysema and pneumomediasti num were present in two patients. Conclusion: The thin-section CT findings of near drowning consist of ground -glass opacities with or without associated reticular opacities and centril obular nodules.