Pulmonary embolism in segmental and subsegmental arteries:Optimal technique, imaging appearances, and potential pitfalls in multidetector CT

摘要

Multidetector CT (MDCT) has become the gold standard imaging modality for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE). Detection of small emboli in segmental and subsegmental pulmonary arteries is still a diagnostic challenge, however. The reported incidence of isolated segmental PE ranges from 4% to 30% in various series.13 Small segmental or subsegmental PE are of importance in patients with limited cardiopulmonary reserve and for diagnosis of chronic pulmonary hypertension. They may be an indicator of silent deep venous thrombosis, which may predispose patients to more severe embolic events.