Coronary angiographic and scintigraphic findings in experimental cardiac contusion.

Clinical, angiographic, scintigraphic and pathologic observations in myocardial contusion were correlated. Radionuclide imaging of the injured heart with 99mTc-Sn-polyphosphate provides an accurate diagnosis in acute, even mild, myocardial contusion. The study can be carried out without danger to the critically ill patient. The coronary angiographic findings in this study explain what is occurring pathologically in the heart. Since arteriography is a more invasive technique than radionuclide imaging, its use is recommended only when the image is negative if it is neccessary to establish the clinical diagnosis for treatment or when more than one week has elapsed since the injury.