Contrast-enhanced Cardiac MRI in Blunt Chest Trauma: Differentiating Cardiac Contusion from Acute Peri-traumatic Myocardial Infarction

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.