The role of 16-detector row spiral CT pulmonary angiography in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the role of pulmonary angiography with 16-detector row spiral CT in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE).Methods Forty-nine patients suspected of having pulmonary embolism were examined prospectively with 16-detector row spiral CT pulmonary angiography.Contrast enhanced 3-mm section thickness was used to scan the entire chest and the raw data were used to perform the reconstruction with 1-mm section thickness and multiplanar reformation (MPR).The axial images of 3-mm,1-mm section thickness,and MPR were compared.Results PE were diagnosed in 42 of 49 patients,and 352 branches were detected,including 8 left or right main pulmonary arteries,96 lobar arteries,132 segmental vessels,and 116 subsegmental arteries.For displaying the emboli in main pulmonary arteries and lobar arteries,the results of the images with 3-mm,1-mm section thicknesses and MPR were identical.But 1-mm-thick section yielded higher rate of detecting emboli in segmental and subsegmental pulmonary arteries compared with 3-mm-thick sections,and there was significant difference statistically (P0.05).Conclusion 16-detector row spiral CT pulmonary angiography is non-invasive,fast,and highly sensitive for PE,and it should be the modality of choice for the diagnosis of PE.