CT scans can help assess patients for compound injuries such as pneumothorax, internal organs in the chest and the chest wall. However, most researchers believe that too much time should not be spent on time-consuming ancillary tests such as CT scans in emergency situations, but that treatment options should be decided quickly based on the patient’s physical signs, pleural puncture or adjuncts such as X-rays.
Therefore, doctors will use CT scans selectively depending on the patient’s urgency, thus providing the most timely and accurate treatment for the patient.