[Diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in the age of spiral computed tomography ]

Diagnosing pulmonary embolism (PE) we can use many investigations. We are presenting analysis of pulmonary artery investigations performed using spiral CT during 18 months in the J. Jonston hospital in Lubin. There were 38 PE cases diagnosed. They were complicating following states: surgical intervention, lower limbs profound thrombophlebitis, COPD, chronic circulatory insufficiency, neoplastic disease, oral contraceptive drugs and unknown. PE affected 0.1% surgical departments patients (that means 0.2% subjected to operation), and 0.4% internal diseases departments patients. 16 cases, i.e. 42% were connected with operative procedures. The largest group of internal medicine departments patients with PE were those suffering from severe chronic airway obstruction (9 cases per 27), chronic circulatory insufficiency (3 per 27), lower limbs profound thrombophlebitis (4 per 27). This data shows, as important problem is PE differential diagnostics of patients suffering from severe internal diseases especially and an important role of spiral computer tomography in it.