Role of MRI in trauma in the pregnant patient

Abstract

The pregnant patient involved in a trauma presents a unique challenge to the radiologist. While CT and conventional radiography remain the workhouse imaging modalities for evaluation of the pregnant patient in the acute trauma setting, MR may be of benefit in certain situations. In this chapter, we discuss some of those potential applications and provide a sample MR protocol for abdominal trauma in pregnancy. We conclude with an overview of the MR appearance of pregnancy-specific and nonpregnancy-specific injuries that may be encountered in the pregnant trauma patient.