Clinical and imaging aspects of pulmonary embolism: a primer for radiologists.

Although many advancements have been made in imaging modalities that can be used to diagnose pulmonary embolism (PE), computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is still the preferred gold standard for promptly diagnosing pulmonary embolism by looking for filling defects caused by the embolus lodged within the main pulmonary artery or its respective branches. The diagnosis is made by the radiologists in emergency settings where quick detection of a PE on CTPA helps the Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) in quick management. Thus, utmost care is needed to follow standard image acquisition protocols and optimal contrast administration techniques to achieve a contrast opacification of at least 210 Hounsfield units for the radiologists to easily pinpoint an embolus within the pulmonary arteries.

Multislice CT evaluation of coronary artery bypass graft patients.

Continuous improvement in multislice computed tomography technology has further enabled advances in coronary artery bypass graft imaging. Multidetector platforms and retrospective electrocardiography gating have enabled sensitivities and specificities in the 95% to 99% range while avoiding the morbidity associated with invasive catheter angiography. Identification of bypass graft stenoses and bypass graft aneurysms/pseudoaneurysms is important in evaluation of these patients.