title: Contrast-enhanced cardiac MRI in blunt chest trauma: differentiating cardiac contusion from acute peri-traumatic myocardial infarction.
abstract: Blunt cardiac trauma most commonly manifests as a myocardial contusion. These contusions can cause cardiac enzyme leaks, electrocardiographic abnormalities, and cardiac contractile dysfunction making it difficult to differentiate a myocardial contusion from a peri-traumatic myocardial infarction. We present a case in which delayed contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was used to differentiate between contusion and myocardial infarction, leading to conservative management with subsequent complete restitution of myocardial function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of New Mexico HSC, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA.
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Southam
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jutila
authors.forename: Loren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ketai
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000368:Aged; D017278:Air Bags / Q000009:adverse effects; D003288:Contusions / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology