Spiral computed tomography is comparable to angiography for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism

The use of spiral computed tomography (CT) for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism has been compared to angiography, the current gold standard. However, the accuracy of pulmonary angiography has never been evaluated against an independent gold standard. The aim of this study was to compare contrast-enhanced spiral CT to pulmonary angiography for the detection of subsegmental-sized pulmonary emboli by using a methacrylate cast of porcine pulmonary vessels as an independent gold standard. We studied 16 anesthetized, juvenile pigs and injected colored methacrylate beads (3.8 mm, small; 4.2 mm, large) via the jugular vein. After embolization spiral CT (3 mm and 1 mm collimation), and pulmonary angiography were performed. Pigs were killed and the pulmonary arterial tree was cast using methacrylate. Spiral CT and angiography were interpreted independently by two radiologists. Sensitivity and 95% confidence intervals for 3 mm and 1 mm collimation CT and angiography, respectively, were: 82% (73 to 88%), 87% (79 to 93%), 87% (79 to 93%) (p = 0.42). Positive predictive values and 95% confidence intervals for 3 mm and 1 mm collimation CT and angiography, respectively, were: 94% (86 to 94%), 81% (73 to 88%), and 88% (80 to 93%). There was no difference between spiral CT and angiography for detection of subsegmental-sized pulmonary emboli. We conclude that spiral CT is comparable to angiography for detection of pulmonary emboli.