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Diagnosis of pulmonary embolism with spiral CT as a second procedure following scintigraphy

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Abstract.

Our objective was to evaluate, in a routine clinical setting, the role of spiral CT as a second procedure in patients with clinically suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) and abnormal perfusion scan. We prospectively studied the role of spiral CT in 279 patients suspected of PE. All patients started their diagnostic algorithm with chest radiographs and perfusion scintigraphy. Depending on the results of perfusion scintigraphy, patients proceeded to subsequent levels in the algorithm: stop if perfusion scintigraphy was normal; CT and pulmonary angiography if subsegmental perfusion defects were seen; ventilation scintigraphy followed by CT when segmental perfusion defects were seen; and pulmonary angiography in this last group when results of ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy and CT were incongruent. Reference diagnosis was based on normal perfusion scintigraphy, high probability perfusion/ventilation scintigraphy in combination with abnormal CT, or pulmonary angiography. If PE was present, the largest involved branch was noted on pulmonary angiography, or on spiral CT scan in case of a high-probability ventilation/perfusion scan and a positive CT scan. A distinction was made between embolism in a segmental branch or larger, or subsegmental embolism. Two hundred seventy-nine patients had abnormal scintigraphy. In 27 patients spiral CT and/or pulmonary angiography were non-diagnostic and these were excluded for image analysis. Using spiral CT we correctly identified 117 of 135 patients with PE, and 106 of 117 patients without PE. Sensitivity and specificity was therefore 87 and 91%, respectively. Prevalence of PE was 53%. Positive and negative predictive values were, respectively, 91 and 86%. In the high-probability group, sensitivity and specificity increased to 97 and 100%, respectively, with a prevalence of 90%. In the non-high probability-group sensitivity and specificity decreased to 61 and 89%, respectively, with a prevalence of 25%. In a routine clinical setting single-detector spiral CT technology has limited value as a second diagnostic test because of low added value in patients with a high-probability lung scan and low sensitivity in patients with non-high-probability lung scan result.

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Acknowledgements.

Financial support for this study was provided by the Dutch National Health Insurance Council (Ziekenfondsraad), grant nr. D94–090. The results of this study are part of the results of the ANTELOPE study group (Advances of New Technologies Evaluating Localisation Of Pulmonary Embolism), a Dutch prospective multicenter trial on pulmonary embolism. Participants: Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, Dept. of Vascular Medicine, Dept. of Nuclear Medicine, Dept. of Radiology: B.J. Sanson, H.R. Büller, H.J. Baarslag, and J.A. Reekers. Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden. Dept. of Radiology, Dept. of General Internal Medicine, Dept. of Nuclear Medicine: W. de Monyé, P.M.T. Pattynama, M.V. Huisman, and A.E. Meinders. Leyenburg Hospital, The Hague: Dept. of Radiology, Dept. of General Internal Medicine: M.J.L. van Strijen, G.J. Kieft, F.E.E. Treurniet, and S.J. Smith. Slotervaart Hospital, Amsterdam. Dept. of Internal Medicine: M.R. MacGillavry, D.P.M. Brandjes, and F. Turkstra. University Hospital VU, Amsterdam: Dept. of Pulmonary Medicine, Dept. of Nuclear Medicine, Dept. of Radiology: P.J. Hagen, P.E. Postmus, F.G. van den Berg, R.P. Golding, and R.A. Manoliu. University Hospital Utrecht, Utrecht: Dept. of Radiology, Dept. of General Internal Medicine, Dept. of Pulmonary Medicine: I.J.C. Hartmann, J.D. Banga, T.H. Lo, and P.F.G.M. van Waes. The authors thank A. van de Berg for her help with statistical analysis of the results.

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Author notes

  1. Peter M. T. Pattynama

    Present address: Department of Radiology, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Leyenburg Ziekenhuis, Leyweg 275, 2545 CH The Hague, The Netherlands

    Marco J. L. van Strijen & Gerard J. Kieft

  2. Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands

    Wouter de Monyé, Peter M. T. Pattynama & Johan L. Bloem

  3. Leiden University Medical Center, Dept. of General Internal Medicine, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands

    Menno V. Huisman

  4. Department of Internal Medicine, Leyenburg Hospital, Leyweg 275, 2545 CH The Hague, The Netherlands

    Sierd J. Smith

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  1. Marco J. L. van Strijen
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Correspondence to Marco J. L. van Strijen.

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van Strijen, M.J.L., de Monyé, W., Kieft, G.J. et al. Diagnosis of pulmonary embolism with spiral CT as a second procedure following scintigraphy. Eur Radiol 13, 1501–1507 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-002-1709-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-002-1709-3

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