Transcavitary Penetrating Trauma—Comparing the Imaging Evaluation of Gunshot and Blast Injuries of the Chest, Abdomen, and Pelvis

Purpose of Review This article will review the mechanisms of gunshot- and blast-related injuries, highlighting both similarities and differences in injury patterns and imaging evaluation with a focus on injuries of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. Recent Findings Advances in the types of weapons and targets of terror-related attacks, as well as the use of body armor, have led to a change in frequency and distribution of both blast- and gunshot-related injuries, a sizable portion of which involves the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. Summary This article reviews requisite knowledge required by both radiologists and surgeons to evaluate gunshot- and blast-related injuries in the twenty-first century.