Journal Club

When to perform CTA in patients suspected
of PE?

Conclusion

Strict adherence to management guidelines is mandatory,
as appropriateness of diagnostic strategy and criteria
strongly correlate with patient outcome. Inappropriate
management can increase up to a sixfold recurrence of
VTE [83]. The first goal of a diagnostic strategy is to
exclude VTE in as many patients as possible. This can be
achieved by combination of low clinical probability and
normal D-dimer test (probably also in intermediate clinical
probability with negative ELISA D-dimer test), or a normal
perfusion lung scan. The second step is to confirm the
diagnosis of VTE using a simple and reliable test, a role
devoted to MD-CTPA [6]. Studies focusing on inpatients
are still needed.


Journal Title - European Radiology
Article Title - When to perform CTA in patients suspected of PE?
Volume - Volume 18
Issue - 3
First Page - 500
Last Page - 509
Issue Cover Date - 2008-03-09

Author - Benoît Ghaye
Author - Robert F. DondelingerDOI - 10.1007/s00330-007-0768-x
Link - http://www.springerlink.com/content/y824mm218u398083