Spiral CT findings in septic pulmonary emboli.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to determine the characteristics of septic pulmonary emboli and their prevalence on spiral computed tomographic (CT) scans.


METHODS
We evaluated 65 lesions on spiral CT scans in ten patients with septic pulmonary emboli. Spiral CT scans (10-mm collimation) were obtained at 10-mm intervals from the lung apex to the diaphragm and were compared with posteroanterior chest radiographs obtained within 24 h after CT scanning.


RESULTS
Only 21 (32%) of the 65 lesions detected on CT scans were also detected on chest radiographs. Peripheral nodules (39 lesions (60%)) were seen in all ten patients, wedge-shaped peripheral lesions (15 lesions (23%)) in nine patients, and infiltrates (11 lesions (17%)) in four patients. Subpleural lesions (45 lesions (69%)) and feeding vessels (35 (54%)) were found in all patients, and cavitary lesions (seven lesions (11%)) were seen in four patients. Subpleural peripheral nodules and wedge-shaped peripheral lesions were seen in nine patients. Thirty-two lesions (49%) ranged in diameter from 10 to 19 mm, and 59 lesions (91%) were less than 30 mm.


CONCLUSIONS
Spiral CT is useful in detecting septic pulmonary emboli. On spiral CT subpleural peripheral nodules and wedge-shaped peripheral lesions less than 30 mm in diameter are often found in patients with septic pulmonary emboli.
Iwasaki
Y
Y
Second Department of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kawaramachi Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602, Japan. yiwasaki@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp
Nagata
K
K
Nakanishi
M
M
Natuhara
A
A
Harada
H
H
Kubota
Y
Y
Yokomura
I
I
Hashimoto
S
S
Nakagawa
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed