Contribution of analysis of perfusion iodine map’s to diagnostic of acute pulmonary thromboembolism

Abstract

Purpose: to study the contribution of perfusion iodine maps to diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) and compare pulmonary perfusion defects with the main imaging biomarkers of PE.Materials and methods. 130 patients with suspected acute pulmonary thromboembolism were studied using pulmonary computed tomographic angiography with perfusion iodine map`s analysis. Pulmonary embolism was revealed in 42 cases. There were evaluated: the number and level of vessel occlusion (Qanadli index), number and grades of lung perfusion defects on perfusion iodine maps (perfusion index), signs of right heart failure, changes of lung parenchyma.Results. Analysis of the data showed a strong correlation between the index Qanadli and perfusion index, rather than signs of right failure. In 3 cases, the segmental and subsegmential pulmonary embolism was revealed form the iodine map’s analysis only.Conclusion. Thus, perfusion iodine maps improve the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism due to characterizing the changes of pulmonary microcirculation. From our data, the iodine maps can be employed as a prognostic tool for further therapy.