RESEARCH ARTICLE


Usefulness of Tomographic Versus Planar Lung Scintigraphy in Suspected Pulmonary Embolism in a Daily PracticeT



Pierre Weinmann*, 1, Jean-Luc Moretti1, Michel W. Brauner2
1 Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hopital Avicenne APHP, Université Paris 13, France
2 Department of Radiology, Hopital Avicenne APHP, Université Paris 13, France

Article Information


Identifiers and Pagination:

Year: 2008
Volume: 2
First Page: 49
Last Page: 55
Publisher Id: TOMIJ-2-49

Article History:

Received Date: 25/3/2008
Revision Received Date: 10/4/2008
Acceptance Date: 22/4/2008
Electronic publication date: 7/5/2008
Collection year: 2008

© 2008 Abril and Roca.

open-access license: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (CC-BY 4.0), a copy of which is available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

* Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hopital Avicenne APHP, Université Paris 13, France; E-mail: pierre.weinmann@avc.aphp.fr


Abstract

Objectives:

Lung scintigraphy is non-diagnostic in most patients suspected of pulmonary embolism when performed in planar mode. Tomographic mode could improve lung scan performance but has not been rigorously assessed. In this study we assessed the usefulness of tomographic mode in patients with a non-diagnostic lung scan scintigraphy.

Methods:

pulmonary embolism was diagnosed or ruled out in consecutive patients with a non-diagnostic lung scan by the combination of a 4-slices computerized tomography and a lower-limb ultrasonography. Results given by reading the tomographic mode in ventilation/perfusion lung scan were compared to final diagnosis.

Results:

142 out of 392 consecutive patients with a non-diagnostic planar lung scintigraphy were included while 47 were excluded, 45 because of contra-indication to contrast medium and 2 because of non-optimal opacification of pulmonary arteries. Ninety-five patients were evaluated. Pulmonary embolism was diagnosed in 20 (21%) patients and ruled out in 75 (79%). Concordance with final diagnosis was found in 77/94 (82%) patients. Tomographic mode was non-diagnostic in 1 (1%) patient. Tomographic mode sensitivity/specificity/accuracy were 0.79/0.83/0.80 respectively. Negative predictive value was 0.94. Discordances were related to single sub segmental or non-occluding segmental thrombus.

Conclusion:

Tomographic mode is diagnostic in nearly all patients and agreement with final diagnosis is found in the majority. Its excellent negative predictive value enables to rule out pulmonary embolism. Discordances were related to single sub segmental or non-occluding segmental thrombus which prognosis value remains to be established.