Unenhanced multidetector computed tomography findings in acute central pulmonary embolism.

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is the gold standard for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE). However, contrast is contraindicated in some patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of unenhanced multidetector CT (MDCT) for diagnosis of central PE using CTPA as the gold standard. METHODS: The records of patients with suspected PE seen between 2010 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Inclusion criteria were an acute, central PE confirmed by CTPA and non-enhanced MDCT before contrast injection. Patients with a PE ruled out by CTPA served as a control group. MDCT findings studied were high-attenuation emboli in pulmonary artery (PA), main PA dilatation > 33.2 mm, and peripheral wedge-shaped consolidation. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine the sensitivity and specificity of unenhanced MDCT to detect PE. Wells score of all patients were calculated using data extracted from medical records prior to imaging analysis. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients with a PE confirmed by CTPA and 32 with a PE ruled out by CTPA were included. Among the three main MDCT findings, high-attenuation emboli in the PA showed best diagnostic performance (Sensitivity 72.9%; Specificity 100%), followed by main PA dilatation > 33.2 mm (sensitivity 46.9%; specificity 90.6%), and peripheral wedge-shaped consolidation (sensitivity 43.8%; specificity 78.1%). Given any one or more positive findings on unenhanced MDCT, the sensitivity was 96.9% and specificity was 71.9% for a diagnosis of PE in patients. The area under the curve (AUC) of a composite measure of unenhanced MDCT findings (0.909) was significantly higher than that of the Wells score (0.688), indicating unenhanced MDCT was reliable for detecting PE than Wells score. CONCLUSIONS: Unenhanced MDCT is an alternative for the diagnosis of acute central PE when CTPA is not available.

A floating thrombus of the right ventricle in severe massive pulmonary embolism.

Floating right heart thrombus (FRHT) is a severe presentation of thromboembolic disease and usually coexists with massive pulmonary embolism. Patients with FRHT are more hemodynamically compromised and usually have a higher mortality rate than patients without FRHT. An echocardiographic finding of FRHT is important because it identifies as poor prognosis. The optimal treatment in patients with FRHT remains uncertain. Heparin is more often an anticoagulant than a lytic agent. Several studies suggested that thrombolytic therapy has advantages in treating such patients. Early diagnosis and emergency therapy are important in treating patients with FRHT in the emergency department and they might have fatal outcomes when treated only with heparin.