Combined helical computed tomographic pulmonary angiography and lung perfusion scintigraphy for investigating acute pulmonary embolism.

Aim: To evaluate a diagnostic protocol incorporating helical computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and lung perfusion scintigraphy in the detection or exclusion of pulmonary embolism (PE) in routine clinical practice.

Materials And Methods: A prospective observational study of 808 consecutive patients with suspected acute PE was undertaken over a 23-month period. Twenty-nine cases who failed to follow the protocol were excluded, leaving 779 cases to be reviewed.