Pulmonary embolism: diagnosis with contrast-enhanced electron-beam CT and comparison with pulmonary angiography.

• DOI: 10.1148/radiology.194.2.7824704
• Publication Date: 2014-07-08T20:32:33Z
• Authors: C L Teigen; T P Maus; P F Sheedy; A W Stanson; C M Johnson; J F Breen; M A McKusick
• Keywords: Pulmonary angiography

PURPOSE: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of contrast material-enhanced electron-beam computed tomography (CT) in diagnosis pulmonary embolism (PE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients suspected having PE were prospectively evaluated with angiography contrast-enhanced CT. Thirty-eight underwent ventilation-perfusion (V-P [also known as V/Q]) scanning. The vasculature was divided into 12 anatomic zones. CT angiographic findings correlated on a patient-by-patient basis for each vascular zone. RESULTS: Both studies negative 36 patients. positive 15 patients, site emboli correlating well. Prospective 65%; specificity, 97%; predictive value, 94%; 82%. After review nine discordant cases, approached 100% clinically important acute PE. depicted central peripheral equally more sensitive specific than V-P CONCLUSION: Electron-beam is noninvasive method It has potential to replace scanning primary screening examination