RESUMO
Objective: To study clinical characteristics and anatomical distributions of pulmonary embolism (PE) in suspicious PE patients and to explore if CT coronary angiography (CTCA) may simultaneously exclude PE. Methods: A total of 403 consecutive patients with suspicious PE admitted to cardiology department of our hospital from 2013-01 to 2014-10 were retrospectively studied. According to embolus distribution by CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and CTCA, the patients were divided into 2 groups: PE group,n=261 and Non-PE group,n=142. The clinical symptoms and imaging characteristics were analyzed and compared between 2 groups. Results: The overall prevalence of PE was 64.8% (261/403), suspicious PE patients were all with chest distress, palpitation, chest pain and syncope. Compared with Non-PE group, the patients in PE group were with more female gender and palpitation, while less chest pain,P0.05. In PE group, the sign of emboli were found in 245/261 patients (93.9%) at CTCA scanning area, the rest 16 patients (6.1%) had the small area of PE, and the emboli were only located at both upper pulmonary arteries. Conclusion: In patients with dififculty of breath, palpitation, chest pain and syncope, coronary artery disease (CAD) and PE should be simultaneously considered for accurate diagnosis. CTCA may meanwhile ifnd PE during CAD diagnosis.