Helical Computed Tomography as a Test for Pulmonary Embolism
Authors: Menno V. Huisman, Marco J.L. van Strijen, Peter M.T. Pattynama
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2003)

Letters2 December 2003Helical Computed Tomography as a Test for Pulmonary EmbolismMenno V. Huisman, MD, Marco J.L. van Strijen, MD, and Peter M.T. Pattynama, MDMenno V. Huisman, MDFrom Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands; Leyenburg Ziekenhuis, 2545 CH The Hague, the Netherlands; and Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands.Search for more papers by this author, Marco J.L. van Strijen, MDFrom Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands; Leyenburg Ziekenhuis, 2545 CH The Hague, the Netherlands; and Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands.Search for more papers by this author, and Peter M.T. Pattynama, MDFrom Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands; Leyenburg Ziekenhuis, 2545 CH The Hague, the Netherlands; and Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-139-11-200312020-00021 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:Drs. Perrier and Bounameaux draw attention to the relatively low incidence of DVT (0.8%) that we found in patients with normal CT results. They argue that because other investigators have found higher incidences of DVT in similar samples, ultrasonography of the leg veins should still be performed in such patients after normal results on single-slice helical CT. We agree with this view, which in fact reflects the opinion stated in our paper. As we pointed out in the Discussion section, other large-scale studies (different from the ones cited by Drs. Perrier and Bounameaux) have also shown a higher ...References1. Cham MD, Yankelevitz DF, Shaham D, Shah AA, Sherman L, Lewis A, . 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 Scholar2. 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 Scholar3. van Rossum AB, Pattynama PM, Mallens WM, Hermans J, Heijerman HG. Can helical CT replace scintigraphy in the diagnostic process in suspected pulmonary embolism? A retrolective-prolective cohort study focusing on total diagnostic yield. Eur Radiol. 1998;8:90-6. [PMID: 9442137] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Remy-Jardin M, Remy J, Wattinne L, Giraud F. Central pulmonary thromboembolism: diagnosis with spiral volumetric CT with the single-breath-hold techniquecomparison with pulmonary angiography. Radiology. 1992;185:381-7. [PMID: 1410342] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands; Leyenburg Ziekenhuis, 2545 CH The Hague, the Netherlands; and Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoSingle-Detector Helical Computed Tomography as the Primary Diagnostic Test in Suspected Pulmonary Embolism: A Multicenter Clinical Management Study of 510 Patients Marco J.L. van Strijen , Wouter de Mony , Jan Schiereck , Gerard J. Kieft , Martin H. Prins , Menno V. Huisman , Peter M.T. Pattynama , and Helical Computed Tomography as a Test for Pulmonary Embolism Arnaud Perrier and Henri Bounameaux Metrics 2 December 2003Volume 139, Issue 11Page: 956KeywordsComputed axial tomographyDiagnostic radiologyForecastingPatientsPulmonary embolismRadiologistsSigns and symptomsThoraxUltrasound imagingVeins ePublished: 2 December 2003 Issue Published: 2 December 2003 CopyrightCopyright © 2003 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...