Pulmonary tumor embolism presenting as infarcts on computed tomography

Pulmonary tumor embolism is a rare cause of respiratory failure in patients with cancer and is only infrequently diagnosed during life. Chest radiogra phs are usually normal. Dilated and beaded peripheral pulmonary arteries ma y be present on computed tomography scans. The authors describe an unusual case of pulmonary tumor embolism presenting on computed tomography scans as bilateral, peripheral, wedge-shaped opacities. On autopsy, these opacities corresponded to areas of pulmonary infarction.