Tips for Computed Tomography Angiographic Imaging of Pulmonary Embolism

To measure parameters suggesting right heart failure on computed tomography angiography (CTA) taken in pulmonary embolism (PE) and to evaluate their possible contribution to the diagnosis. To investigate the changes in the parameters of PE cases at the 6th month-1 year and to evaluate the importance of these values in prognosis. PE is a disease which may be difficult to diagnose because of its different symptoms and can be fatal. The evaluation of right heart failure findings with CTA is very important in diagnosis and follow-up.

The mean pulmonary artery (PA) diameter, the ratio of the right ventricle to the left ventricle diameter (RV/LV), contrast material reflux to vena cava inferior and the elapsed time (ET), which was the time required to reach the targeted contrast threshold of 95 patients were measured at the first visit and under treatment.

RV/LV, ET and contrast medium reflux at PE group were significantly higher than those without embolism (P = 0.009, P = 0.001, P = 0.014). In the first CTAs of the PE group, these parameters were significantly reduced in the control CTAs (P = 0.005, P = 0.013, P = 0.016).

It can be said that the values we measured are important in terms of prognosis of PE by assisting in diagnosis and in evaluating post-treatment recovery.