title: Assessment of correlation between CT angiographic clot load score, pulmonary perfusion defect score and global right ventricular function with dual-source CT for acute pulmonary embolism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to prospectively investigate the correlation between CT angiographic clot load (CTACL) score, pulmonary perfusion defect (PPD) score and the global right ventricular function in the assessment of pulmonary embolism (PE) severity.
  
  
  METHODS
  49 patients with acute PE, who underwent dual-source CT scan, were included in the study. CT angiography and perfusion imaging were performed. Data from electrocardiogram-gated coronary angiography scanning protocol were used for right ventricular function analysis. Two readers evaluated the CTACL and PPD scores using the Qanadli and Chae methods, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PPD score had a strong positive correlation with the CTACL score (r=0.72, p<0.001) and both scores in turn had a strong positive correlation with the right ventricular/left ventricular (RV/LV) diameter ratio (r=0.60, r=0.62, p<0.001). However, the PPD score had a strong negative correlation with ejection fraction (EF) (r=-0.63, p<0.001) while the CTACL score had a low negative correlation with EF (r=-0.33, p=0.02). Between the RV/LV<1 group (n=35) and the RV/LV >1 group (n=14), the PPD score, CTACL score, pulmonary artery trunk diameter, EF and reflux of inferior vena cava were significantly different, all with p<0.001. The end-systolic volume (p=0.01) was significantly different but the end-diastolic volume (p=0.11) and stroke volume (p=0.08) showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therefore, considering PPD scores, CTACL scores and cardiovascular manifestations together may be helpful in the evaluation of PE severity.
authors: Department of Radiology, Union Hospital Attached to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Zhou
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Shi
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: A R
authors: AR
authors: Kumar
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Chi
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Han
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010477:Perfusion; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D018497:Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right; D055815:Young Adult