CT heads diagnosing chest pathology? Whatever next?

This case report presents two cases where subcutaneous emphysema visualised on computerised tomography examinations of the head subsequently led to the diagnoses of pathology within the thorax. The pathophysiology of traumatic subcutaneous emphysema within the head and neck is briefly discussed, along with examples of other causes of this condition within this anatomical region. The primary aim of this report is to draw attention to the necessity for a thorough review of any CT head examination, including both intra- and extra-cranial structures, undertaken at a variety of window settings.