Right ventricular shotgun pellet embolism: Case report and radiological aspect

Alain Abdo, MD; Mylene Zamoun, MD; Teodor Vasile, MD; Minh Tam Bailly, MD; Safwane El Hatimi, MD; Marie-France Bellin, MD, PhD; Olivier Meyrignac, MD, PhD

Radiology Case Reports (Nov 2021)

Right ventricular shotgun pellet embolism: Case report and radiological aspect

Alain Abdo, MD,
Mylene Zamoun, MD,
Teodor Vasile, MD,
Minh Tam Bailly, MD,
Safwane El Hatimi, MD,
Marie-France Bellin, MD, PhD,
Olivier Meyrignac, MD, PhD

Affiliations

Alain Abdo, MD: Radiology department, Bicetre Hospital APHP, 78 Rue du Général Leclerc, Le Kremlin Bicetre 94270, France; Correspondence author. Alain Abdo.
Mylene Zamoun, MD: Radiology department, Bicetre Hospital APHP, 78 Rue du Général Leclerc, Le Kremlin Bicetre 94270, France
Teodor Vasile, MD: Radiology department, Bicetre Hospital APHP, 78 Rue du Général Leclerc, Le Kremlin Bicetre 94270, France
Minh Tam Bailly, MD: Cardiology department, Bicetre Hospital APHP, Le Kremlin Bicetre, France
Safwane El Hatimi, MD: Cardiology department, Bicetre Hospital APHP, Le Kremlin Bicetre, France
Marie-France Bellin, MD, PhD: Radiology department, Bicetre Hospital APHP, 78 Rue du Général Leclerc, Le Kremlin Bicetre 94270, France; Faculty of medicine, Paris-Saclay University, Le Kremlin Bicetre, France; BioMaps Multimodal biomedical imaging laboratory, Paris-Saclay University, Le Kremlin Bicetre, France
Olivier Meyrignac, MD, PhD: Radiology department, Bicetre Hospital APHP, 78 Rue du Général Leclerc, Le Kremlin Bicetre 94270, France; Faculty of medicine, Paris-Saclay University, Le Kremlin Bicetre, France; BioMaps Multimodal biomedical imaging laboratory, Paris-Saclay University, Le Kremlin Bicetre, France

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 16, no. 11
pp. 3172 – 3175

Abstract

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Pellet embolism to the heart following gunshot injuries is an unusual event that requires a fast diagnosis. Imaging assessment is necessary to locate the projectiles and look for associated injuries. We present a case of a 41-year-old woman admitted after sustaining 2 gunshot wounds in the abdomen and left thigh, with the initial computed tomography (CT) scan showing a metallic object next to the right ventricle. Further radiological evaluation included transthoracic echocardiography and electrocardiogram-gated cardiac CT scan which confirmed the diagnosis of a migrating pellet to the right ventricle, entrapped within the trabeculations. Electrocardiogram-gated cardiac CT has a major role in detailed evaluation of bullet embolism to the heart cavities and guides the management.

Published in Radiology Case Reports

ISSN: 1930-0433 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Medicine (General): Medical physics. Medical radiology. Nuclear medicine
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/radiology-case-reports/

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