Chest Computed Tomography for the Diagnosis of Pericardial Contusion in Mine-Explosive Wounds

Objective: to prove the possibility of detecting pericardial contusion using computed tomography (CT) performed in the normal mode of chest examination.

Material and methods. The preliminary phase of the study examined the CT appearance of the intact pericardium, identified symptoms characteristic of contusion, and the likelihood of detecting these symptoms. The final phase assessed the potential of chest CT for detecting cardiac contusions in mine-explosive chest wounds.

Results. The ability to diagnose gunshot pericardial contusion using chest CT was established. Pericardial contusion was diagnosed in 45.1% of cases of mine-explosive chest wounds. The primary CT signs of contusion were pericardial edema and hemopericardium. Edema corresponded to pericardial leaflet thickening up to 2–3 mm. Pericardial thickness exceeding 3 mm indicated blood accumulation.

Conclusion. Detection of pericardial contusion by CT will help determine indications for in-depth examination of intracardiac structures.

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