title: [Imaging of the pulmonary arteries: when, how and when?].
abstract: For several years, catheter angiography was the standard imaging technique used for evaluating the pulmonary arteries. Technical advances with computed tomography have had a significant impact on chest imaging, especially the increasing availability of multidetector row CT units. CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is now the first line imaging technique to evaluate pulmonary arterial diseases, including pulmonary embolus. Pulmonary angiography is now essentially limited to the endovascular management of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations, pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas or pulmonary arterial aneurysms. Gadolinium enhanced MR angiography of the pulmonary arteries may be helpful in patients with contraindications to the use of iodinated contrast material.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Imagerie Thoracique et Cardio-Vasculaire, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, 371, avenue du Doyen Giraud, 34295 Montpellier. h-vernhet@chu-montpellier.fr
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vernhet
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Sénac
mesh_terms: D000783:Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis; D000792:Angiography; D001164:Arteriovenous Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis; D001165:Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000175:diagnosis; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis