The Harms of Unnecessary CT Pulmonary Angiography: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Pulmonary embolism (PE) poses a significant health risk in the United States, with high mortality rates. Clinicians maintain a low threshold for suspecting PE, potentially leading to deviation from guideline-recommended algorithms and unnecessary computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA). This case discusses a 46-year-old woman who presented with symptoms suggestive of PE following a prolonged road trip. Despite a low Wells score and negative D-dimer results, she underwent CTPA, resulting in an unnecessary and harmful interventional radiology–guided thrombectomy. This highlights the importance of adhering to guidelines in PE diagnosis to mitigate potential harms associated with the overuse of available medical tools.