[Diagnosis of lung embolism and underlying venous thrombosis in multi-slice spiral CT]

To determine the value of multi-slice CT for the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism and an underlying venous thrombosis.

70 patients with clinically suspected acute pulmonary embolism were examined. Using multi-slice CT a combined examination of the pulmonary arteries and the veins of the lower limb, pelvis and abdomen was performed. Only one single bolus of 150 ml iopromid 300 was injected into a cubital vein with a flow of 4 ml/s. First, the pulmonary arteries were scanned with a slice thickness of 2.5 mm and a pitch of 1.5. On arrival of the contrast medium at the popliteal veins, indicated by bolus trakking, the veins of the lower limbs up to the end of the inferior vena cava were imaged using a slice thickness of 3.75 mm and a pitch of 1.5. The results could be compared with a ventilation-perfusion scan in 48 cases, with a Doppler ultrasound examination in 46 cases, and with a venography in 10 cases. Furthermore, the image quality of all arterial and venous regions was subjectively assessed.

In all patients who underwent multi-slice CT the pulmonary arteries as well as the veins of the lower half of the body could be recorded completely. Regarding the pulmonary arteries the image quality showed excellent results for the central and segmental arteries. The region up to the 3rd division in subsegmental branches could be sufficiently judged. More peripherally, a diagnostic assessment was not possible. The image quality of the veins was excellent in all sections, except the calf, where a reliable diagnosis could not be made. The comparison with the other techniques confirmed the superiority of multi-slice CT concerning the central and segmental pulmonary arteries and the veins from the popliteal vein to the inferior vena cava. In contrast, peripheral pulmonary emboli can be detected more certainly in ventilation/perfusion scans. The veins of the calf can be evaluated more reliably with venography.

Multi-slice CT proved to be an outstanding tool in the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism. The clinically suspected disease and a causing venous thrombosis can be detected in a fast and reliable way. At present, multi-slice CT is not suitable for the recognition of peripheral emboli. However, expected technical developments hold promise for future improvements.