Computed tomographic pulmonary angiography

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In diagnostic imaging, computed tomographic pulmonary angiography, also called CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA), is a form of x-ray computed tomography for examining the pulmonary vessels.[1]

Pulmonary embolism

Role in diagnosis

Assessing the accuracy of CT pulmonary angiography is hindered by the rapid changes in the number of rows of detectors available in multidetector CT (MDCT) machines.[2] The PIOPED II study used a mixture of 4 slice and 16 slice scanners and reported a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 96%. This study noted that additional testing is necessary when the clinical probability is inconsistent with the imaging results.[3]

Role in Prognosis

Two systematic reviews[4][5] and two more recent randomized controlled trials[6][1] have studied prognosis after a negative CTPA.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Anderson DR, Kahn SR, Rodger MA, et al (December 2007). "Computed tomographic pulmonary angiography vs ventilation-perfusion lung scanning in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism: a randomized controlled trial". JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association 298 (23): 2743–53. DOI:10.1001/jama.298.23.2743. PMID 18165667. Research Blogging. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "pmid18165667" defined multiple times with different content
  2. Schaefer-Prokop C, Prokop M (2005). "MDCT for the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism". European radiology 15 Suppl 4: D37-41. PMID 16479644[e]
  3. Stein PD, Fowler SE, Goodman LR, et al (2006). "Multidetector computed tomography for acute pulmonary embolism". N. Engl. J. Med. 354 (22): 2317-27. DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa052367. PMID 16738268. Research Blogging.
  4. Quiroz R, Kucher N, Zou KH, et al (April 2005). "Clinical validity of a negative computed tomography scan in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism: a systematic review". JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association 293 (16): 2012–7. DOI:10.1001/jama.293.16.2012. PMID 15855435. Research Blogging.
  5. Moores LK, Jackson WL, Shorr AF, Jackson JL (December 2004). "Meta-analysis: outcomes in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism managed with computed tomographic pulmonary angiography". Annals of internal medicine 141 (11): 866–74. PMID 15583229[e]
  6. Righini M, Le Gal G, Aujesky D, et al (April 2008). "Diagnosis of pulmonary embolism by multidetector CT alone or combined with venous ultrasonography of the leg: a randomised non-inferiority trial". Lancet 371 (9621): 1343–52. DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60594-2. PMID 18424324. Research Blogging.