Controversies in diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost 2011 Apr;17(2):140-9
Date
12/17/2010Pubmed ID
21159701DOI
10.1177/1076029610389027Scopus ID
2-s2.0-79952834854 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 21 CitationsAbstract
The approach to the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is under constant revision with advances in technology, noninvasive approaches, and increasing awareness of the risks of ionizing radiation. Optimal approaches in some categories of patients are controversial. Data are insufficient for evidence-based recommendations. Therefore, this survey of investigators in the field was undertaken. Even among experts there were marked differences of opinion regarding the approach to the diagnosis of acute PE. Although CT pulmonary angiography was usually the imaging test of choice, the respondents were keenly aware of the dangers of ionizing radiation. In view of advances in scintigraphic diagnosis since the Prospective Investigation of Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis (PIOPED) trial, ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) lung scans or perfusion scans alone and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) V/Q lung scans are often recommended. The choice depends on the patient's age, gender, and complexity of the findings on the plain chest radiograph.
Author List
Stein PD, Sostman HD, Dalen JE, Bailey DL, Bajc M, Goldhaber SZ, Goodman LR, Gottschalk A, Hull RD, Matta F, Pistolesi M, Tapson VF, Weg JG, Wells PS, Woodard PK, Consensus GroupMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Acute DiseaseAngiography
Data Collection
Diagnosis, Differential
Female
Humans
Lung
Male
Pulmonary Embolism
Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
