Radionuclide Diagnosis of Pulmonary Embolism.
Diagnostic imaging plays an integral role in the diagnostic workup of suspected pulmonary embolism, and several modalities have been employed over the years. In recent years, the choice has been narrowed to either computer tomographic or radionuclide based methods, i.e. computer tomographic angiography (CTA) and ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy (V/Q-scan). Both methods display advantages and shortcomings, and while we provide some insights into CTA and alternative methods, the paper's main focus is a review of the V/Q-scan. We discuss basic considerations, interpretation criteria, clinical value, and controversies of conventional planar lung scintigraphy as well as the more contemporary 3-dimensional imaging technique of single photon emission tomography (SPECT) with or without CT.
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark. soeren.hess@rsyd.dk.|Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Hospital of Southwest Jutland, Esbjerg, Denmark. soeren.hess@rsyd.dk.
Søren
S
Hess
Department of Medicine, Division of Respiratory Medicine, Vejle Hospital, Vejle, Denmark.
Poul Henning
PH
Madsen
D000072226:Computed Tomography Angiography / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055420:Perfusion Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000379:methods; D014692:Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin
Diagnosis; Lung scintigraphy; Molecular imaging; Pulmonary embolism; Radioisotope; SPECT; V/Q-scan; Ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy