ROLE OF CT IN CHRONIC PULMONARY-EMBOLISM - COMPARISON WITH PULMONARY ANGIOGRAPHY

To assess the value of CT in chronic pulmonary embolism (CPE), CT scan s and pulmonary angiograms of 21 consecutive patients were reviewed. C omputed tomography was better than angiography in assessing proximal c lots (three thrombi not seen by angiography, three angiographic false- positives confirmed by surgery). Furthermore, CT was able to analyze p ulmonary arteries distal to angiographic amputations. Computed tomogra phy was less sensitive than angiography for vascular distortions (38 v s. 50%) and stenosis (35 vs. 71.8%). Pulmonary infarctions were better detected and characterized by CT than by angiography. Isolated parenc hymal ground-glass opacities were seen by CT in 18 patients, especiall y in those with right cardiomegaly. High resolution CT delineated them better than did standard CT. Computed tomography may be a useful adju nct to angiography in the assessment of CPE.