Computed Tomographic Imaging of Cardiac Trauma

Abstract

Cardiac injury can occur in the setting of blunt and penetrating trauma resulting in significantly adverse clinical outcomes. Although the clinical presentation is variable and computed tomographic imaging is rarely performed to specifically evaluate for cardiac injury, the ability to recognize the findings of cardiac injury on computed tomographic examinations performed for thoracic trauma is essential to avoid misdiagnosis and direct potentially lifesaving interventions. This article reviews the direct and indirect computed tomographic findings of cardiac injury.

Keywords: Blunt cardiac injury; Cardiac trauma; Myocardial contusion; Myocardial rupture; Penetrating cardiac injury.