Clinical impact of MDCT in acute thromboembolic disease

CT angiography has revolutionized the diagnostic approach of thromboembolic disease in allowing non-invasive study of the pulmonary artery tree. The advent of MDCT, combining isotropic, ultra fast, and large volume acquisitions has enhanced the clinical applications of CT angiography. It is nowadays a “one stop shop“ imaging modality able to evaluate in the same acquisition the pulmonary arteries, the peripheral veins (CT venography), as well as the heart. This presentation will summarize the recent publications on clinical applications of MDCT with emphasis on diagnostic accuracy, new simplified diagnostic strategies of non-severe acute PE, and evaluation of right ventricular dysfunction. However, scan parameters should be adapted to optimize the quality of MDCT while maintaining the dose to the patient as low as possible.

Lernziele:

MDCT angiography parameters, including kVp and mAs should be adapted to each patient in order to minimize the radiation dose

MDCT angiography has high diagnostic accuracy for acute PE diagnosis

MDCT angiography in patients suspected of acute pulmonary embolism should be integrated into a diagnostic strategy including at least clinical evaluation and D-Dimer testing.

Radiologists must look at the heart in patients with acute PE to detect right ventricular dysfunction.

Korrespondierender Autor: Feretti G

Service Central de Radiologie, Grenoble

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