Defining the Role of Computed Tomographic Pulmonary Angiography in Suspected Pulmonary Embolism
Authors: Lisa K. Moores, William L. Jackson
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2005)

Letters3 May 2005Defining the Role of Computed Tomographic Pulmonary Angiography in Suspected Pulmonary EmbolismLisa K. Moores, MD and William L. Jackson Jr, MDLisa K. Moores, MDFrom Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20307.Search for more papers by this author and William L. Jackson Jr, MDFrom Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20307.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-142-9-200505030-00028 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:We appreciate the comments regarding our meta-analysis and the opportunity to clarify our conclusions. As stated in the Discussion, “the role of CTPA without concomitant lower-extremity imaging is still undefined.” We agree with both Dr. Frost and Dr. Girard that the literature to date does not support definitive exclusion of venous thromboembolism with CTPA alone, and we recommend concurrent lower-extremity imaging before withholding anticoagulation in patients with suspected clots. While advancements in imaging technology may eventually improve diagnostic accuracy of CTPA and allow for a single test, in our opinion further study is required before this can be ...References1. Loud PA, Katz DS, Bruce DA, Klippenstein DL, Grossman ZD. Deep venous thrombosis with suspected pulmonary embolism: detection with combined CT venography and pulmonary angiography. Radiology. 2001;219:498-502. [PMID: 11323478] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Cham MD, Yankelevitz DF, Shaham D, Shah AA, Sherman L, Lewis A, et al. Deep venous thrombosis: detection by using indirect CT venography. The Pulmonary Angiography-Indirect CT Venography Cooperative Group. Radiology. 2000;216:744-51. [PMID: 10966705] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Ghaye B, Dondelinger RF. Non-traumatic thoracic emergencies: CT venography in an integrated diagnostic strategy of acute pulmonary embolism and venous thrombosis. Eur Radiol. 2002;12:1906-21. [PMID: 12136309] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Lim KE, Hsu YY, Hsu WC, Huang CC. Combined computed tomography venography and pulmonary angiography for the diagnosis PE and DVT in the ED. Am J Emerg Med. 2004;22:301-6. [PMID: 15258873] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20307.Disclaimer: The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the U.S. Department of the Army or the U.S. Department of Defense.Disclosures: None disclosed. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoMeta-Analysis: Outcomes in Patients with Suspected Pulmonary Embolism Managed with Computed Tomographic Pulmonary Angiography Lisa K. Moores , William L. Jackson Jr. , Andrew F. Shorr , and Jeffrey L. Jackson Defining the Role of Computed Tomographic Pulmonary Angiography in Suspected Pulmonary Embolism Shaun D. Frost Defining the Role of Computed Tomographic Pulmonary Angiography in Suspected Pulmonary Embolism Philippe Girard Defining the Role of Computed Tomographic Pulmonary Angiography in Suspected Pulmonary Embolism Pieter W. Kamphuisen and Giancarlo Agnelli Metrics Cited byContrast-enhanced spiral CT for the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism before the Prospective Investigation of Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis IIStellenwert der Multislice-CT bei der Diagnostik der LungenembolieMultidetector Computed Tomography for Acute Pulmonary Embolism 3 May 2005Volume 142, Issue 9Page: 802KeywordsAngiographyComputed axial tomographyConflicts of interestPulmonary embolismThoraxVenous thromboembolism ePublished: 3 May 2005 Issue Published: 3 May 2005 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2005 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...