Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: the disease, the diagnosis, and the treatment.
Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension is a disease of unknown etiology, the diagnosis and treatment of which has changed dramatically in the past decade. Increased clinical awareness and recent developments in imaging techniques combine to promote earlier and less invasive diagnosis. Improved surgical thromboendarterectomy techniques and decreased perioperative mortality have enabled remarkable cures for most patients with this previously fatal condition. This article reviews current understanding of the disease process, imaging modalities used in diagnosis, and surgical treatment of patients with chronic thromboembolism.
Bergin
C J
CJ
Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego 92103-8756, USA.
D000792:Angiography; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004452:Echocardiography; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D017131:Thrombectomy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed