J Korean Soc Radiol.  2010 Apr;62(4):389-392. 10.3348/jksr.2010.62.4.389.

Arteriographic and MR Imaging Findings of a High-Voltage Electrical Burn in the Upper Extremity: A Case Report

• Choi MN
• Lee GK
• Suh KJ
• Kang IW
• Hwang DH
• Lee ES
• Min SJ
• Chun W

• KMID: 1460075
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2010.62.4.389

Abstract

An electrical injury is defined as sequelae caused by accidental contact with human-made or generated electrical power. A high-voltage electrical burn can cause many complications of numerous body systems within an individual's body, including the cardiac, respiratory, musculoskeletal, and central nervous systems. The radiologic features of this rare and sometimes life-threatening injury have occasionally been described in the literature. However, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no reports in Korea on the arteriographic and MR imaging findings of high-voltage electrical burn involving the body's upper extremity. In this article, we describe the imaging findings of a case involving a high-voltage electrical burn in the upper extremity, with an emphasis on the arteriographic and MR imaging findings and a review of the literature.

MeSH Terms

Angiography
Burns
Central Nervous System
Korea
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Muscle, Skeletal
Upper Extremity

Figure

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  Fig. 1 A 38-year-old man with high-voltage electrical burn. Conventional angiography of the right upper extremity shows complete occlusion of ulnar (asterisk) and radial artery (open asterisk) in the distal one-third of the forearm.

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  Fig. 2 A. Axial T1-weighted (500/10) spin-echo MR image shows enlargement of right brachialis (asterisk) and triceps brachii muscles (open asterisk) whose signal intensity are similar to that of normal muscle. B. Corresponding axial T2-weighted (3600/109) turbo spin-echo MR image shows a heterogenous high signal intensity in the entire brachialis (asterisk) and triceps brachii muscles (open asterisk) and a part of biceps brachii muscle (arrowhead). C, D. Gadolinium-enhanced axial (C) and sagittal (D) T1-weighted spin-echo MR images obtained with fat saturation show peripheral rim enhancement in the entire brachialis muscle (asterisk) and part of triceps brachii (open arrows) and biceps brachii muscles (arrowhead), representing coagulation necrosis. There is diffuse enhancement of triceps brachii muscle (open asterisk), representing perfused and viable area of edematous muscle.

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