MDCT for the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism.
With the advent of multidetector CT, pulmonary CT angiography (MD-CTPA) has substantially gained in spatial resolution and is the accepted method of choice to diagnose and rule out acute pulmonary embolism down to the subsegmental level. This article reviews means to optimize scanning technique and contrast injection protocols dependent on the scanner type used. It summarizes recent publications on the performance of MD-CTPA with special emphasis on the diagnostic accuracy, interpretation and clinical role of (isolated) peripheral emboli. Diagnostic algorithms are outlined that describe the role of CT in context with the pretest probability, the D-Dimer, lower limb sonography and scintigraphy.
Schaefer-Prokop
Cornelia
C
Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center (AMC), University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Cornelia.SchaeferProkop@gmail.com
Prokop
Mathias
M
D000208:Acute Disease; D000465:Algorithms; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003287:Contrast Media