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Reproducibility of multi-detector spiral computed tomography in detection of sub-segmental acute pulmonary embolism

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the inter-observer and intra-observer agreement of the diagnosis of sub-segmental acute pulmonary embolism (PE) in an inpatient population explored by 16 slice multi-detector spiral computed tomography (MDCT). Four hundred consecutive inpatients were referred for MDCT for the clinical suspicion of acute PE. One hundred and seventy seven (44.2%) had a known cardio-respiratory disease at the time of examination. Inter-observer and intra-observer agreements for the diagnosis of acute PE and of sub-segmental acute PE were assessed blind and independently by three experienced readers and by kappa statistics. Seventy-five patients were diagnosed as having acute PE findings (19.5%), and clots were located exclusively within sub-segmental arteries in nine patients (12%). When clots were limited to sub-segmental or more distal branches of the pulmonary arteries, kappa values were found to be moderate (0.56) to very good (0.85) for the diagnosis of sub-segmental acute PE, whereas for the diagnosis of acute PE in the whole population, kappa values ranged from 0.84 to 0.97. Intra-observer agreement was found to be perfect (kappa=1). MDCT is a reproducible technique for the diagnosis of sub-segmental acute PE as well as for acute PE. In this inpatient population, sub-segmental acute PE was not a rare event.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unité d’Imagerie Thoracique et Cardiovasculaire, Groupe Hospitalier Sud Hôpital du Haut-Lévêque, Avenue Magellan, 33604, Pessac, France

    S. Brunot, O. Corneloup & V. Latrabe

  2. INSERM E0503, Université de Bordeaux 2, rue Leo Saignat, 33000, Bordeaux, France

    M. Montaudon & F. Laurent

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  1. S. Brunot
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  2. O. Corneloup
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  3. V. Latrabe
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  4. M. Montaudon
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  5. F. Laurent
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Correspondence to F. Laurent.

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Brunot, S., Corneloup, O., Latrabe, V. et al. Reproducibility of multi-detector spiral computed tomography in detection of sub-segmental acute pulmonary embolism. Eur Radiol 15, 2057–2063 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-005-2844-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-005-2844-4

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