title: Frequency of nonthromboembolic imaging abnormalities in pregnant women referred for computed tomography pulmonary arteriography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study sought to determine the frequency of nonthromboembolic imaging abnormalities in pregnant women referred for computed tomography pulmonary arteriography (CTPA).
  
  
  METHODS
  CTPA studies on 100 consecutive pregnant women performed over a 5-year period were reviewed independently by 2 radiologists, with conflicts resolved by consensus. Age range was 18-43 years (mean 28 years). The presence or absence of pulmonary embolism and of nonthromboembolic imaging abnormalities was recorded. These were graded as A if the abnormalities were thought to provide potential alternative explanations for acute symptoms, B if findings were incidental that required clinical or radiologic follow-up, and C if the findings did not require further action.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pulmonary embolism was seen in 5 women. In 2 of these additional findings of consolidation and infarction were seen. Ninety-five women did not have pulmonary embolism. Eleven women (12%) had grade A abnormalities; 6 cases of consolidation, 2 cases of lobar collapse, and 3 cases of heart failure with pleural effusions. One woman had a grade B abnormality due to the presence of pulmonary nodules. Ten women had incidental grade C abnormalities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pulmonary embolism occurs in 5% of pregnant women referred for CTPA. In pregnant women without embolism on CTPA, potential alternative causes for patient symptoms are seen on CT in 12% of cases.
authors.affiliation: David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Diagnostic Cardiovascular Imaging, Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Moriarty
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: pmacmahon@mater.ie.
authors.forename: Ferdia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bolster
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Population Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Leo P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Lawler
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Eoin C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Kavanagh
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: MacMahon
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000792:Angiography; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055613:Multiple Pulmonary Nodules / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001261:Pulmonary Atelectasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: CTPA; Pregnancy; Pulmonary embolism; V/Q