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Semin Vasc Med 2001; 01(2): 155-164
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-18483
Copyright © 2001 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel.: +1(212) 584-4662

Pulmonary Embolism: Imaging Modalities-V/Q Scan, Spiral (Helical) CT, and MRI

Philip Costello1 2 , Krishanu B. Gupta2
  • 1Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
  • 2Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital Boston, Massachusetts
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Publication History

Publication Date:
16 November 2001 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) imaging has been used as the screening test for pulmonary embolism (PE) for many years with diagnostic algorithms developed as a result of the Prospective Investigation of Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis study. The primary conclusions were that high probability V/Q scans were reliable indicators for PE and normal or near-normal scans were reliable in the exclusion of PE. With the increasing availability of spiral (helical) computed tomography (CT) and many studies showing a high degree of accuracy for PE, there is much support for the replacement of V/Q by spiral CT. This article reviews the literature concerning V/Q scanning, spiral (helical) CT, and the future potential for magnetic resonance in the diagnosis of PE.

KEYWORD

Pulmonary embolism - CT - MR - V/Q imaging

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