CT Imaging of Cardiac Trauma

Abstract

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