The frequency of pleural effusion and additional chest findings in patients undergoing computerised tomographic pulmonary angiography for suspected pulmonary embolism at a level four academic hospital in South Africa
Date
2016
Authors
Dorfman, Shane
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
PURPOSE:
The
non-‐specific
presentation
of
pulmonary
embolism
(PE)
leads
to
a
number
of
diagnostic
challenges.
Pleural
effusions
in
particular
are
an
under-‐recognised
complication
of
PE
with
potentially
lethal
consequences.
This
study
assessed
the
diagnostic
yield
of
pulmonary
embolism,
frequency
of
pleural
effusions,
pulmonary
hypertension
and
abnormal
parenchymal
findings
in
patients
undergoing
CTPA
for
suspected
PTED.
METHOD:
The
CTPAs
of
100
patients
performed
between
September
2015
and
January
2016
were
analysed
retrospectively.
The
presence/absence
of
the
above-‐mentioned
radiological
abnormalities
were
documented.
RESULTS:
PE
was
identified
in
37%
of
cases.
Pleural
effusion
was
present
in
37,8%,
pulmonary
hypertension
in
66,7%
and
abnormal
parenchymal
findings
in
59,5%
of
PE
positive
patients
respectively.
The
only
finding
significantly
associated
with
PE
was
peripheral
wedge-‐shaped
opacities
(p=0,019).
CONCLUSIONS:
There
was
a
higher
diagnostic
yield
of
PE
in
this
study
when
compared
to
similar
studies
conducted
elsewhere.
With
the
exception
of
peripheral
wedge-‐shaped
opacities,
pleuro-‐parenchymal
abnormalities
are
of
limited
value
in
diagnosing
PE.
Description
A
research
report
submitted
to
the
Faculty
of
Health
Sciences,
University
of
the
Witwatersrand,
Johannesburg,
in
partial
fulfilment
of
the
requirements
for
the
degree
of
Master
of
Medicine
in
Diagnostic
Radiology
Johannesburg,
2016