title: Patterns of pulmonary perfusion scans in normal subjects. III. The prevalence of abnormal scans in nonsmokers 30 to 49 years of age.
abstract: The prevalence of abnormal pulmonary perfusion (Q) scans in persons without cardiopulmonary disease has not been well defined; this prevalence could impact on the current diagnostic approach to those in whom pulmonary embolic disease is suspected. In prior studies, we found that Q scan defects, particularly lobar or segmental defects, are rarely present in normal young smokers and nonsmokers. To determine if normal nonsmokers of an older age group have a higher prevalence of Q defects, we performed 6-view Q scans in 40 subjects 32 to 49 yr of age who had no known cardiopulmonary disease. Each subject had undergone a history, physical examination, electrocardiogram, spirometry, and posteroanterior chest roentgenogram prior to scanning. All Q scans were interpreted blindly and independently by 2 experienced readers. No subject demonstrated a lobar or segmental defect on 2 views. One subject with scoliosis had a subsegmental defect corresponding to a prominent aortic arch on the chest roentgenogram. We conclude that abnormal Q scans are extremely uncommon among normal nonsmokers 30 to 49 yr of age.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012016:Reference Values