Embolotherapy of a ruptured internal mammary artery secondary to blunt chest trauma

A unique case of traumatic rupture of the internal mammary artery secondary to blunt deceleration injury of the chest is reported. The injury, which produced changes consistent with great vessel disruption on the plain chest radiograph, was treated by percutaneous transcatheter embolization of Gianturco steel coils. The importance of surveying all arteries visualized during thoracic aortography in patients with widened mediastinum following deceleration injury to the chest is reinforced. Embolotherapy of this noncritical chest wall vessel is demonstrated.