title: MRI for the diagnosis of blunt abdominal trauma: a case report.
abstract: Blunt abdominal trauma is a leading cause of trauma related mortality. Currently, the gold standard in the radiographic evaluation of intra-abdominal injury is computed tomography (CT) with iodinated contrast material. However, in the setting of renal failure or a previous anaphylactic reaction to contrast material, radiographic evaluation of the trauma patient may prove difficult. Without contrast material, the sensitivity of CT in the diagnosis of solid organ injury is diminished. We present a case report and literature review of magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Virginia Health System, P.O. Box 801380, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA. th8q@virginia.edu
authors.forename: Traci L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Hedrick
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Sawyer
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000175:diagnosis; D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium; D006406:Hematoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D013154:Spleen / Q000293:injuries; D013157:Splenic Artery / Q000293:injuries; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium