Digital subtraction angiography: limitations for the detection of pulmonary embolism

Perfusion lung scanning, magnification pulmonary arteriography, and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) were performed prior to and following Gelfoam embolization of selected pulmonary arteries in eight canines. The sites of embolization were identified in 75% of perfusion lung scans, in 93% of magnification pulmonary arteriograms, in 75% of arterial phase DSA studies, and 100% of parenchymal phase DSA examinations. With technological advances, DSA has the potential to become the examination of choice for the evaluation of patients suspected of having pulmonary emboli.