Computed tomography of pulmonary embolism

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Cardiovascular Imaging
• Pulmonary Medicine

Background:

• Pulmonary arteriography is the traditional method for diagnosing pulmonary embolism but carries risks.
• Computed tomography (CT) presents a noninvasive imaging alternative for evaluating pulmonary vasculature.

Observation:

• Three clinical cases illustrate the utility of CT in diagnosing and managing pulmonary thromboembolism.
• CT successfully identified massive central pulmonary thromboembolism in a critically ill patient.
• Serial CT examinations facilitated follow-up of central thromboembolism, obviating repeat angiography.

Findings:

• Computed tomography effectively visualized emboli and thrombi within central pulmonary arteries across all reported cases.
• CT provided crucial preoperative delineation of organized thrombus in the proximal right pulmonary artery.
• The study focused on central pulmonary arteries, not investigating peripheral embolus detection.

Implications:

• CT can be a valuable tool for noninvasive diagnosis and monitoring of central pulmonary embolism, especially in high-risk patients.
• This imaging modality may reduce the need for invasive procedures like pulmonary arteriography.
• Further research could explore CT's role in evaluating peripheral pulmonary emboli.