Терапевтический архив (Apr 2003)
Role of computed angiopulmonography in current diagnosis of pulmonary artery thromboembolism
Abstract
Aim. To study potentialities of tomographic methods in diagnosis of pulmonary artery thromboembolism (PATE). Material and methods. Electron-beam tomography (EBT) was used for diagnosis in 34 patients (mean age 41.3 ± 16.5 years) suspected of PATE (Imatron C-150 unit, USA). The procedure included standard examination of the lungs and EBT angiopulmonography in intravenous introduction of the contrast agent (80-100 ml, the rate 3-3.5 ml/s). Results. The pulmonary artery was found to contain thrombi in 56% patients. 18% of PATE patients had pulmonary infarction. A complete coincidence of EBT and scintigraphy was registered in 31% cases, no PATE by both methods was in 19% cases. Angiopulmonography and EBT findings were the same. In 1 case the result of pulmonary scintigraphy was false negative. 24% patients showed symptoms of thrombophlebitis or varicosity of the lower limbs. EBT has detected signs of PATE in 83% of them. Conclusion. EBT-angiopulmonography is a precise, highly informative поп-invasive method in diagnosis of PATE.