title: Computed tomography of acute pulmonary embolism: state-of-the-art.
abstract: Multidetector computed tomography (CT) plays an important role in the detection, risk stratification and prognosis evaluation of acute pulmonary embolism. This review will discuss the technical improvements for imaging peripheral pulmonary arteries, the methods of assessing pulmonary embolism severity based on CT findings, a multidetector CT technique for pulmonary embolism detection, and lastly, how to avoid overutilization of CT pulmonary angiography and overdiagnosis of pulmonary embolism. Key Points • We describe clinical prediction rules and D-dimers for pulmonary embolism evaluation. • Overutilization of CT pulmonary angiography and overdiagnosis of pulmonary embolism should be avoided. • We discuss technical improvements for imaging peripheral pulmonary arteries. • Pulmonary embolism severity can be assessed based on CT findings. • We discuss multidetector CT techniques for pulmonary embolism detection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210002, China, kevinzhlj@163.com.
authors.forename: Long Jiang
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Guang Ming
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Felix G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Meinel
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: McQuiston
authors.forename: James G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Ravenel
authors.forename: U Joseph
authors.initials: UJ
authors.lastname: Schoepf
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D006801:Humans; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*