Radiologic Aspects of the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Embolism in Pregnancy.
Pulmonary embolism in pregnancy is a leading cause of maternal mortality. The clinical presentation is often nonspecific, making imaging essential for accurate diagnosis. After reviewing the literature on the radiologic diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in pregnancy, we concluded that both computed tomography pulmonary angiography and lung perfusion scintigraphy are sensitive with high positive predictive values in the presence of high clinical suspicion, but lung perfusion scintigraphy is recommended given lower maternal breast exposure to ionizing radiation and lower fetal contrast exposure. However, if a chest x-ray is abnormal, computed tomography pulmonary angiography is preferred due to high nondiagnostic rates of lung perfusion scintigraphy.
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Related Subject Headings
- Radiation, Ionizing
- Radiation Exposure
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic
- Pregnancy
- Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine
- Maternal-Fetal Exchange
- Humans
- Female
- Diagnostic Imaging
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Radiation, Ionizing
- Radiation Exposure
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic
- Pregnancy
- Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine
- Maternal-Fetal Exchange
- Humans
- Female
- Diagnostic Imaging