title: Penetrating wounds to the torso: evaluation with triple-contrast multidetector CT.
abstract: Penetrating injuries account for a large percentage of visits to emergency departments and trauma centers worldwide. Emergency laparotomy is the accepted standard of care in patients with a penetrating torso injury who are not hemodynamically stable and have a clinical indication for exploratory laparotomy, such as evisceration or gastrointestinal bleeding. Continuous advances in technology have made computed tomography (CT) an indispensable tool in the evaluation of many patients who are hemodynamically stable, have no clinical indication for exploratory laparotomy, and are candidates for conservative treatment. Multidetector CT may depict the trajectory of a penetrating injury and help determine what type of intervention is necessary on the basis of findings such as active arterial extravasation and major vascular, hollow viscus, or diaphragmatic injuries. Because multidetector CT plays an increasing role in the evaluation of patients with penetrating wounds to the torso, the radiologists who interpret these studies should be familiar with the CT findings that mandate intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Miami Leonard Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami Health System, Jackson Memorial Hospital, and Ryder Trauma Center, 1611 NW 12th Ave, West Wing 279, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
authors.forename: J Diego
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lozano
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Munera
authors.forename: Stephan W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Jorge A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Soto
authors.forename: Christine O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Menias
authors.forename: Kim M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Caban
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media; D006801:Humans; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D060726:Torso / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries*; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media