Diagnostic Imaging In Pulmonary Embolism: A Series Study

Some clinical manifestations of 129 patients (pts) with pulmonary embolism ( PE ) and its findings of chest radiography ( CRX, 129 pts) , radionuclide lung ventilation/perfusion ( V/Q, 118 pts ) scan, conventional pulmonary angiography ( CPA, 26 pts ) and/or digital subtraction angiography ( DSA, 17 pts) were analyzed in this article. The results of CRX, CPA, and V/Q scan were comparatively evaluated with a discussion on the assessment of above modalities.The main findings of CRX in pts with PE can be classified into two categories: suggesting the possibility of PE and depicting signs of PH and cor pulmonale. The present study showed that regional lung oligemia (77.7%) was more common than unilateral one (22.3%). Two third of pts with unilateral lung oligemia had plethora on the contralateral side. 35 pts with unilateral/regional lung oligemia showed smaller hilar and/or lobar/segmental arteries on the diseased side or area, but pulmonary arteries (PA) dilated on contralateral hilar or nearby area. Marked or aneurysmal hilar artery dilation was observed in 24 pts. Pulmonary hypertension(PH) and cor...