Chest sonography in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism: a comparison with MRI angiography and ventilation perfusion scintigraphy.

Aim: To compare the diagnostic performance of chest sonography, MRI angiography and ventilation/perfusion intigraphy in pulmonary embolism (PE).

Method: In a prospective clinical study, 55 patients (41 women, 14 men, age 23 - 91 years) with clinical signs of PE were investigated within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. The final diagnosis was made by MRI angiography (reference method).

Lung sonographic findings in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism.

Purpose: To assess the feasibility and diagnostic performance of lung transthoracic sonography in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism.

Method: In a prospective clinical study we compared sonographic findings of the peripheral lung with various scintigraphic gradings and D-dimer plasma concentrations. One hundred and nineteen consecutive patients with clinical signs of pulmonary embolism were investigated within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms.