Journal
NUCLEAR MEDICINE COMMUNICATIONS
Volume 33, Issue 5, Pages 459-463Publisher
LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
DOI: 10.1097/MNM.0b013e32835085d9
Keywords
chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension; computed tomography pulmonary angiogram; ventilation/perfusion scan
Funding
- National Science and Technology Pillar Program, China [2006BAI01A07]
- Beijing Municipal Science and Technology [Y0204004040731]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Objective The correct and prompt diagnosis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) plays a pivotal role in determining appropriate therapy. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic efficacy of pulmonary ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) scanning and computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) using pulmonary angiography as the golden standard. Methods A total of 114 consecutive patients (49 men and 65 women, age 43.3 +/- 15.3 years) suspected of having CTEPH were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent V/Q scanning, CTPA, and pulmonary angiography within an interval of 7 days from one another. Interpretation of V/Q images was based on the refined Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis criteria. For threshold 1, high-probability and intermediate-probability V/Q scan findings were considered to be positive, and low-probability/normal V/Q scan findings were negative. For threshold 2, only a high-probability V/Q scan finding was considered to be positive, and intermediate-probability and low-probability/normal V/Q scan findings were considered to be negative. Results Fifty-one patients (44.7%) had a final diagnosis of CTEPH. V/Q scan showed high probability, intermediate probability, and low probability/normal scan in 52, three, and 59 patients, respectively. CTPA revealed 50 patients with CTEPH and 64 patients without CTEPH. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the V/Q scan were 100, 93.7, and 96.5%, respectively, with threshold 1, and 96.1, 95.2, and 95.6%, respectively, with threshold 2; similarly, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of CTPA were 92.2, 95.2, and 93.9%, respectively. Conclusion In conclusion, both V/Q scanning and CTPA are accurate methods for the detection of CTEPH with excellent diagnostic efficacy. Nucl Med Commun 33:459-463 (C) 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available