Thromboembolism CT

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Computed tomography with radiocontrast, effectively a pulmonary angiogram imaged by CT and also known as CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA), is increasingly used as the mainstay in diagnosis. Advantages are clinical equivalence, its non-invasive nature, its greater availability to patients, and the possibility of picking up other lung disorders from the differential diagnosis in case there is no pulmonary embolism.

• Thrombus is located centrally within the vascular lumen or occludes the vessel (vessel cut-off sign)
• Commonly causes distention of the involved vessel.

• Eccentric and contiguous changes of the vessel wall
• Reduces the arterial diameter by more than 50%
• Evidence of recanalization within the thrombus
• An arterial web is present

• 
  Left leg. Deep venous thrombosis
• 
  Left leg. Deep venous thrombosis
• 
  CT pulmonary angiogram. Clots in both the left and the right pulmonary arteries (red arrows). Source

Patient with Shortness of Breath

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  Pulmonary embolism: Patient presented with Shortness of breath
• 
  Pulmonary embolism: Patient presented with Shortness of breath
• 
  Pulmonary embolism: Patient presented with Shortness of breath
• 
  Pulmonary embolism: Patient presented with Shortness of breath

Patient with Acute RBBB

• 
  Pulmonary embolism: Patient presented with Acute RBBB
• 
  Pulmonary embolism: Patient presented with Acute RBBB

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