Medical imaging of explosion injuries

Diagnosing and caring for injuries caused by explosives were once almost exclusively the province of combat medical personnel, but with the increase in foreign and domestic terrorism, civilians have become targets. Blasts create complicated medical pictures and paint a wide swath of injuries. Medical responders and hospitals must focus on planning for mass casualty incidents. Medical imaging personnel can learn from worldwide efforts to diagnose and treat blast-related injuries and apply these lessons to the potential for domestic terrorism and to caring for victims of accidental explosions. They also can better understand long-term effects on military and civilian personnel who have been exposed to blast injuries on foreign soil.