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Multislice CT imaging of pulmonary embolism
U J Schoepf1, M A Kessler, C T Rieger
1Institute of Clinical Radiology, University of Munich, Klinikum Grosshadern, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377 Munich, Germany. schoepf@ikra.med.uni-muenchen.de
European Radiology
|November 10, 2001
Summary
Multislice CT enhances pulmonary embolism (PE) diagnosis by improving detection of small clots and alternative diseases. This advanced imaging offers a comprehensive, non-invasive tool for diagnosing PE, its causes, and effects.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Pulmonary Medicine
Background:
- Computed Tomography (CT) is the preferred method for diagnosing central pulmonary embolism (PE) to segmental arteries.
- CT's advantage lies in detecting alternative or additional diseases causing symptoms.
- The sensitivity of CT for peripheral emboli has limited its acceptance as the gold standard for PE diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic capabilities of multislice CT for pulmonary embolism.
- To assess the improvement in detecting subsegmental emboli with 1-mm slices.
- To explore the use of multislice CT for combined diagnosis of PE and deep venous thrombosis.
Main Methods:
- Utilized multislice CT with 1-mm slices for comprehensive chest coverage in a single breath-hold.
- Compared detection rates of subsegmental emboli with 1-mm slices versus thicker sections.
- Assessed interobserver correlation and reproducibility of multislice CT findings.
Main Results:
- 1-mm slices significantly increase the detection rate of subsegmental emboli compared to thicker sections.
- Multislice CT demonstrates high interobserver correlation, exceeding that of competing modalities.
- Combined thoracic and venous multislice CT is clinically accepted for diagnosing PE and deep venous thrombosis, often revealing alternative diagnoses.
Conclusions:
- Multislice CT with 1-mm slices offers improved accuracy and reproducibility for diagnosing PE.
- The modality facilitates non-invasive assessment of lung perfusion, aiding in understanding the functional effects of PE.
- Multislice CT presents an attractive option for comprehensive, non-invasive diagnosis of PE, its causes, effects, and differential diagnoses.