OBJECTIVES To determine if mandatory adherence to a diagnostic protocol increases the rate of computed tomography pulmonary angiographies (CTPAs) positive for pulmonary embolism (PE)-the so-called diagnostic yield. Further, we aim to identify factors associated with this diagnostic yield. METHODS We included all patients with suspected PE requiring CTPA from 9 January 2014 t0 3 June 2014. The...

AIM To assess computed tomography (CT) pulmonary angiography (CTPA) dose and image quality in a large teaching hospital, and subsequently, to optimise the protocol in order to reduce the dose without affecting image quality. MATERIALS AND METHODS Dose-length product (DLP), patient size, and objective quality parameters (contrast-to-noise ratio and signal-to-noise ratio on standardised levels)...

Major advances in computed tomography (CT) technology, specifically multidetector CT (MDCT) with vastly improved spatial and temporal resolution,1 have led to a surge in the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) using computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA).2–5 For persons between 35 and 74 years old, hospital diagnosis rates in 1981 for PE were 127.7 per 100 000 for blacks and 98...

BACKGROUND Computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is a gold standard test for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE), but is reported to be over prescribed. We performed this study to determine over prescription of CTPAs at a District General Hospital (DGH) in the United Kingdom. Our secondary aim was to establish a cause of its over-prescription. METHODS We retrospectively revie...

We evaluated the prevalence and prognostic value of CT-pulmonary angiographic (CTPA) measures in 292 treatment naive patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Pulmonary artery calcification (13%) and thrombus (10%) were exclusively seen in PAH-congenital heart disease. Oesophageal dilation (46%) was most frequent in PAH-systemic sclerosis. Ground glass opacification (GGO) (41%), peri...

Introduction: Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography (CTPA) among pregnant women is often non-diagnostic and may need the repetition of CTPA. This study aims to compare test bolus tracking protocols for CTPA by analysing mean contrast enhancement pulmonary artery, diagnostic quality radiation dosage, as well outcome repeated due initial Methods: retrospective from two tertiary centres includ...

wo years ago several members of the British Thoracic Society independently suggested that, in the light of recent publications, the Standards of Care Committee should update their 1997 advice on suspected acute pulmonary embolism (PE). This issue of Thorax contains the results of this endeavour, with evidence sufficiently robust now to allow these to be called guidelines (see pp 470–83). Those ...

Objectives: To evaluate if dual-energy CT (DECT) pulmonary angiography (CTPA) can detect anemia with the aid of machine learning. Methods: Inclusion 100 patients (mean age ± SD, 51.3 14.8 years; male-to-female ratio, 42/58) who underwent DECT CTPA and hemoglobin (Hb) analysis within 24 h, including 50 cases Hb below controls ≥ 12 g/dL. Blood pool attenuation was assessed on virtual noncontrast ...

BACKGROUND Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction caused by acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is associated with poor short- and long-term prognosis. RV dilatation as a proxy for RV dysfunction can be assessed by calculating the right-to-left ventricle diameter (RV/LV) ratio on standard computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) images. It is unknown whether dedicated training is required to accu...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the performance of low contrast media (CM) dose dual-energy computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) with advanced monoenergetic reconstructions in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE). MATERIALS AND METHODS The study had institutional review board approval; all patients gave written informed consent. Forty-one patients (25 men, 16 women, mean age 62.9...