Ct angiography for pulmonary embolism
Common Questions and Answers about Ct angiography for pulmonary embolism
angiogram
What you may be referring to are pulmonary embolisms (blood clots in respiratory system). To test for that can be pulmonary angiography with a catheter device . It's not available at all hospitals, and a trained specialist must perform the test.
Pulmonary angiography is a test used to diagnose pulmonary embolism. The procedure involves a flexible tube called a catheter that is threaded through the groin (upper thigh) or arm to the blood vessels in the lungs.
I assume that your reference CTA is shorthand for CTPA (Computed Tomography with Pulmonary Angiography). There is an extensive database now confirming the validity of a negative CT pulmonary angiogram for the exclusion of significant PE. Meta-analysis of studies including a variety of techniques and scanner types and patient populations has revealed a Negative Predictive Value (NPV) of greater than 98%. This implies that a negative or normal test will be truly negative nearly all the time.
There could be complications from the contrast dye they use, however if you had a pulmonary embolism its very likely it would kill you and baby which is why they took the risk.
We also look at the venous structures such as the pulmonary veins, IVC,SVC, etc for congenital anomalies. The lungs and bones are reviewed separately by our radiologists.
I would recommend that you get your test performed at a center of excellence, which performs over 500 per year, because this is a fairly new technique and does not have a widespread level of quality control.
So I had what I and the doctors thought was pneumonia for 4 months. My symptoms were pleural pain, difficulty breathing, and fatigue. I had numerous x-rays, CT scans, visits to my GP and a pulmonologist, plus an emergency room visit when I couldn't breathe due to rib and chest pain, plus three rounds of antibiotics, but they could only diagnose pneumonia.
Hi, have you had a CT scan of your chest with contrast?? If the cardiologist ruled out heart trouble, then it's got to be your lungs. The CT with contrast would show if you had a pulmonary embolism, which would not show up on an ordinary x-ray. Do some googling and look up pulmonary embolism. It's a blood clot in the lungs that cause shortness of breath, and asthma like symptoms. Do not let this go, ask for the ct with contrast.
Lungs can be imaged with a ventilation-perfusion scan or a CT scan to look for a clot. Each test has its benefits and limitations, and use of these tests is dependent upon the clinical situation. If there are technical issues so that the lungs cannot be imaged, an ultrasound of the legs may be performed to look for a thrombus (clots); the concept is that if the symptoms are present of a pulmonary embolus and a clot is found in the leg, then the diagnosis can be inferred.
After 4 weeks, I was diagnosed with an acute pulmonary thrombo-embolism. I did not have the typical symptoms, but pain started after I breathed in 'CS' gas during an accidental discharge. I also had pertussis earlier in the year. My pain always started btw the scapulas, and as my respiration increased from very mild exercise, the pain radiated across my scapulas, to my chest, down my arms to my elbows, and across my lower jaw. I never had problems breathing; only the pain.
Other possible causes of coughing up blood include COPD, lung cancer, tuberculosis, pulmonary embolism, pneumonia and lung abscess to name a few. Also, check to see if he is on blood thinners for heart disease, this could be causing the bleeding. I suggest he should go the ER, for immediate evaluation.
Hope this helped and do keep us posted.
Have you been checked for a pulmonary embolism? My symptoms were pain in the left side of my chest (it sounds though like my pain was much worse than yours). It hurt me to inhale, cough, sneeze, laugh, etc. I was just diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism last week. They can do a blood test for clotting and a CT scan to confirm diagnosis.
I just felt completely off! They had to do a CT scan to check for a pulmonary embolism. Turns out they found several small things on my scan. I have a hiatial hernia ( My stomach has slid up past my diaphragm.) Causing all my terrible reflux that I thought was completely pregnancy related. I also have a cluster of arteries on my liver thst I have to get looked at after my little guy gets here and a possible pulmonary Embolism.. small one.. behind my heart.. but its not a definite.
Angiography can be with a cathode that takes a vessel route to the heart, and ct scan angiography uses images to diagnose vessel blockage. The new 258 slice ct scan may be better as it images vessels in 3 dimensions as well as the flow of blood. Other than the new technology (more slice scans) with ct the cath is usually considered the best.
With a scan there are no tubes, but an IV for injection of anxiety reducing agent, and a cathode is inserted in the arm or agrion into the femur vessel.
Hi, please stop worrying, as the symptoms with pulmonary embolism are usually progressive. Embolism is more common in people who are immobilized. Besides if there is a clot in the lungs, it would have showed in the tests done. In the absence of which it’s unlikely that you have clot in the lungs. So, stop worrying. However, if you develop fever or cough or breathlessness, check with your doctor to rule out a respiratory infection. Take care.
Last Wednesday, 7 days ago, I woke up feeling bad. Like I had the flu but I wasn't sick. Later that night I began having a bad, deep throbbing in my right upper arm/shoulder. My arm was slightly swollen and cold like ice and felt real tight. This has happened before, but not accompanied with pain. I had insurance then and went to the dr and he didn't think or do anything of it. Along with my arm, my left leg was really weird feeling. I don't know how to describe it.
If the study indication is to rule out pulmonary embolism, the images will be obtained when the most contrast is in the pulmonary artery. If the study indication is to characterize a liver mass, the images will be obtained in precontrast, postcontrast arterial, postcontrast venous, and sometime postcontrast delayed phases.
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