[The diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism: a comparison between spiral CT and DSA in an animal experiment].
OBJECTIVE
The value of helical computed tomography (CT) for diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism was assessed and compared with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) as a reference method.


METHODS
In 11 dogs, lobar, segmental, and subsegmental occlusions of the pulmonary arteries were produced. Subsequent to selective pulmonary angiography, the animals were examined with contrast-enhanced helical CT.


RESULTS
In the main and lobar pulmonary arteries there was a complete correlation between CT and DSA in documentation of total and partial embolic occlusions. Identification of segmental and subsegmental pulmonary emboli by CT required a second run with optimized parameters in 7 of 11 cases. Nevertheless, 18% of the peripheral arteries could not be classified.


CONCLUSIONS
Helical CT as less invasive modality is competitive with DSA in demonstration of central pulmonary emboli. However, CT imaging of peripheral pulmonary emboli requires optimal bolus timing.
Schmitz-Rode
T
T
Klinik für Radiologische Diagnostik, Klinikum der RWTH Aachen.
Kilbinger
M
M
Adam
G
G
Günther
R W
RW
D000208:Acute Disease; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D015588:Observer Variation; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods
Diagnostik der akuten Lungenembolie: Vergleich zwischen Spiral-CT und DSA im Tierexperiment.