[Pulmonary arteriography and bronchial arteriography in pulmonary embolism]

Pulmonary arteriography is the most reliable technique for evaluation of pulmonary embolism and other vascular abnormalities. A definitive diagnosis of pulmonary embolism is made on the basis of direct angiographic signs of emboli of intravascular filling defect and vessel cut-off sign. To obtain these findings, pulmonary arteriography needs to be performed as soon as possible, and in acutely ill patients who are in shock and under consideration for thrombolytic therapy or emergency embolectomy, the study should be performed on an emergency basis. Digital subtraction pulmonary angiography may be an useful technique for massive pulmonary embolism, but it cannot exclude clinically important peripheral pulmonary embolism. Wedged pulmonary arteriography can demonstrate the direct signs of distal emboli, which are difficult to obtain by main pulmonary artery injection angiogram. In the chronic stage of pulmonary embolism, bronchial arteriogram shows collaterals to pulmonary arteries. This study may be useful in patients with chronic pulmonary embolism, especially when thromboembolectomy is planned.