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Symmetrical perfusion defects without pulmonary embolism

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Abstract

We report two patients with ventilation-perfusion (V-P) images that demonstrate large symmetric perfusion defects with normal chest radiographs and ventilation images who did not have pulmonary embolism (PE) by angiography. This experience suggests that patients with symmetrical V-P mismatches should not be assumed to have PE. The need for pulmonary angiography in such patients should be carefully considered.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Edward Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 510 S. Kingshighway Blvd., 63110, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Daniel R. Biello & Bharath Kumar

Authors
  1. Daniel R. Biello
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  2. Bharath Kumar
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Additional information

This work was supported in part by National Institutes of Health SCOR in Thrombosis HL 14147

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Biello, D.R., Kumar, B. Symmetrical perfusion defects without pulmonary embolism. Eur J Nucl Med 7, 197–199 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00256462

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00256462

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