CT angiography findings of the left atrium and right ventricle in patients with massive pulmonary embolism.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to show the imaging findings of the left atrium and right ventricle on CT angiography in patients with massive pulmonary embolism.


CONCLUSIONS
Massive pulmonary embolism can cause abrupt acute pulmonary arterial hypertension, right ventricular dysfunction, and decrease in left ventricular preload. Patients with these findings on CT angiography can have a poorer prognosis than those without these imaging findings. Consequently, recognizing anatomic changes such as right ventricular dilation or septal bowing, decrease in size of left atrium and pulmonary veins (a manifestation of decreased pulmonary venous return) would be useful for risk stratification at the time of massive pulmonary embolism.
Ocak
Iclal
I
Department of Radiology, Thoracic Imaging Division, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 200 Lothrop St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. ocaki@upmc.edu
Fuhrman
Carl
C
D000328:Adult; D003287:Contrast Media; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014283:Triiodobenzoic Acids
D003287:Contrast Media; D014283:Triiodobenzoic Acids; C054871:ioversol