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Updated: May 22, 2026

A Porcine Model of Acute Autologous Pulmonary Embolism
Published on: September 6, 2024
Mediastinal Lymphadenopathy as a Prognostic Marker in Acute Pulmonary Embolism
Hans-Jonas Meyer1, Mattes Hinnerichs2, Anar Aghayev2
1Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany, jonas90.meyer@web.de.
Introduction:
Computed tomography (CT) is the modality of choice to diagnose acute pulmonary embolism (PE). The present multicentric study aimed to demonstrate the prognostic role of mediastinal lymphadenopathy for short mortality within 30 days in patients with acute PE.
Methods:
The investigated patient sample comprised 935 patients (411 female, 44%) with a mean age of 65.3 ± 16.3 years derived from three academic centers. Contrast-enhanced CT pulmonalis angiography was used to assess the presence of mediastinal lymphadenopathy. The primary end point of this study was 30-day mortality. The Simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (sPESI) was calculated as a clinical prognostic score.
Results:
A total of 98 patients (10.5%) died within the 30-day observation period. Mediastinal lymphadenopathy was present in a total of 171 cases (18.3%). Mediastinal lymphadenopathy was associated with 30-day mortality with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.83 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-2.92; p = 0.013 in univariable analysis) and 1.67 (95% CI, 1.01-2.69; p = 0.041 in multivariable analysis).
Conclusion:
Mediastinal lymphadenopathy represents an independent prognostic factor for 30-day mortality in patients with acute PE. The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms remain unclear and should be further investigated.
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