Assessment of gunshot bullet injuries with the use of magnetic resonance imaging.
BACKGROUND
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is rarely used for preoperative assessment of shotgun injuries because of concerns of displacing the possibly ferromagnetic foreign body within the surrounding tissue.


METHODS
A total of 56 different projectiles underwent MRI testing for ferromagnetism and imaging quality in vitro and in pig carcasses with a commercially available 1.5-MRI scan. Image quality was compared with that of computed tomographic scans.


RESULTS
Projectiles with ferromagnetic properties can be distinguished easily from nonferromagnetic ones by pretesting the motion of an identical projectile within the MRI coil. When ferromagnetic projectiles were excluded, MRI yielded the more precise images compared with other imaging techniques. Projectile localization and associated soft tissue injuries were visualized without artifacts in all cases.


CONCLUSIONS
When ferromagnetic foreign bodies are excluded by pretesting their properties within the MRI with a comparative projectile, MRI portends an excellent imaging procedure for assessing the extent of injury and planning the removal by surgery.
Hess
U
U
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München Ismaningerstrasse, Munich, Germany.
Harms
J
J
Schneider
A
A
Schleef
M
M
Ganter
C
C
Hannig
C
C
D000818:Animals; D016477:Artifacts; D005389:Firearms; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008280:Magnetics; D013552:Swine; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000473:pathology*