title: Pulmonary embolism: imaging modalities--V/Q scan, spiral (helical) CT, and MRI.
abstract: Ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) imaging has been used as the screening test for pulmonary embolism (PE) for many years with diagnostic algorithms developed as a result of the Prospective Investigation of Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis study. The primary conclusions were that high probability V/Q scans were reliable indicators for PE and normal or near-normal scans were reliable in the exclusion of PE. With the increasing availability of spiral (helical) computed tomography (CT) and many studies showing a high degree of accuracy for PE, there is much support for the replacement of V/Q by spiral CT. This article reviews the literature concerning V/Q scanning, spiral (helical) CT, and the future potential for magnetic resonance in the diagnosis of PE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Raiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Costello
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014680:Veins / Q000473:pathology; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D014692:Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio