CT scanning is more sensitive and better at detecting pulmonary laceration than X-rays are,^[1] and often reveals multiple lacerations in cases where chest X-ray showed only a contusion. Before CT scanning was widely available, pulmonary laceration was considered unusual because it was not common to find with X-ray alone. On a CT scan, pulmonary lacerations show up in a contused area of the lung,^[2] typically appearing as cavities filled with air or fluid^[3] that usually have an elliptical or ovoid shape. The roundness of the cavity is due to the elasticity of the lung.