Electron beam computed tomography and ventilation perfusion scintigraphy in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (2025)

Abstract.

The purpose of this study, performed in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE), was to compare V/Q scans and electron beam computed tomography (CT) scans on a patient-by-patient and segment-by-segment basis. Both a segment-based and a lobe-based analysis was performed in those patients positive for PE. The diagnosis of PE was assumed on the basis of a mismatch at V/Q scanning or a filling defect in a pulmonary vessel at contrast-enhanced electron beam CT. In 37/45 patients (24 female, 21 male, 58±16 years) with suspected PE, the diagnosis of PE was confirmed or excluded by both modalities, resulting in a correlation of 82% between electron beam CT and V/Q scanning. In the 28 patients positive for PE according to one or both modalities, 504 segments were evaluated. Of these 504 segments, 248 (nearly 50%) showed perfusion defects on V/Q scans, of which only 90 (36%) displayed emboli at electron beam CT. Overall, a total of only 135 of the 504 segments (27%) were abnormal at electron beam CT. More than 50% of the patients with discrepant results did not show an embolus at electron beam CT. It is concluded that there is a good correlation (82%) between V/Q scanning and electron beam CT on a patient-by-patient basis but a markedly less good correlation (62%) in a segment-based analysis.

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