Unenhanced multidetector computed tomography findings in acute central pulmonary embolism

BMC Medical Imaging

Table 1 Wells criteria and unenhanced multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) findings in patients with and without pulmonary embolism (PE)

	With PE diagnosed by CTPA	Without PE confirmed by CTPA	p-value
Wells criteria
DVT	11 (34.4%)	0 (0%)	< 0.001
Alternative diagnosis less likely than PE	32 (100%)	32 (100%)	NA
Heart rate > 100 beats/minute	19 (59.4%)	14 (43.8%)	0.317
Recent surgery or immobilization	3 (9.4%)	5 (15.6%)	0.708
Previous PE/DVT	3 (9.4%)	4 (12.5%)	1.000
Hemoptysis	2 (6.3%)	0 (0%)	0.492
Malignancy history	6 (18.8)	4 (12.5%)	0.732
Wells score			0.188
≥ 4.5	24 (75.5%)	18 (56.3%)
< 4.5	8 (25.0%)	14 (43.8%)
Unenhanced MDCT
High attenuation in pulmonary artery (PA)	23 (71.9%)	0 (0%)	< 0.001
Main PA dilatation > 33.2 mm	15 (46.9%)	3 (9.4%)	0.002
Peripheral wedge-shape consolidation	14 (43.8%)	7 (21.9%)	0.109
Number of findings			< 0.001
0	1 (3.1%)	23 (71.9%)
1	13 (40.6%)	8 (25.0%)
2	15 (46.9%)	1 (3.1%)
3	3 (9.4%)	0 (0%)

DVT deep vein thrombosis, MDCT multidetector computed tomography, PA pulmonary artery, PE pulmonary embolism
NA: Not applicable since all patients had alternative diagnosis less likely than PE

ISSN: 1471-2342