Journal Club Of Boston Medical Center using Dual-detector Helical Ct Angiography To Detect Deep Venous Thrombosis In Patients With Suspicion Of Pulmonary Embolism: Diagnostic Value And Additional Findings

Abstract

A review of an artcle that discusses What is the value of dual-slice helical CT angiography in detecting deep venous thrombosis in patients suspected of acute pulmonary embolism? Also, what are common extrathoracic findings. 1. WHAT IS THE QUESTION BEING ASKED? What is the value of dual-slice helical CT angiography in detecting deep venous thrombosis in patients suspected of acute pulmonary embolism? Also, what are common extrathoracic findings. 2. WHY IS THIS QUESTION IMPORTANT? With multi-detector helical CT becoming a mainstream modality, it is important to realize its potential to improve patient care and increase departmental efficiency. In this case, the potential for using CT as a “one stop” modality for both accurately detecting pulmonary embolism and assessing for the most likely cause of PE may represent an instance where both improved patient care and departmental efficiency can be demonstrated. 3. WHAT IS THE BACKGROUND WORK: What groundwork lead to this question? PE is a major cause of morbidity/mortality, and the disease has high association with DVT as a causative condition. Until the relatively recent development of multi-detector CT, radiology has been left with requiring a multimodality approach to work-up of PE. The development of multidetector CT has provided a non-invasive modality fast enough and potentially accurate enough to resolve the need for a multimodality approach. Has anybody else tried to answer this question? Yes. Recently multiple studies have been published which have addressed the potential of multidetector CT in the work-up of PE in conjunction with lower extremity venography. In the year 2000 alone: Yankelevitz, et al, attempted to determine optimal time delay for venous phase lower extremity enhancement. Loud, et al, performed a similar prospective study on 71 patients suspected of PE, and compared CT venography to ultrasound Cham et al, as part of a multi-institutional study, enrolled 541 pts suspected of PE. Garg, et al, scanned 70 patients All comparative studies considered CT venography as accurate as ultrasound (1-4). 4. WHAT IS THE NULL HYPOTHESIS? In the setting of obtaining CTPA for the work-up of PE, combining CTPA with a CT venography will provide diagnostic information comparable to US. Journal Club Of Boston Medical Center using Dual-detector Helical Ct Angiography To Detect Deep Venous Thrombosis In Patients With Suspicion Of Pulmonary Embolism: Diagnostic Value And Additional Findings 2 of 4 5. WHO IS THE TEST POPULATION? All patients referred for CT unit for work-up of suspected PE from December 1998 to June 1999. 6. WHAT ARE THE METHODS USED? The study is a cross sectional prospective comparison of CT venography to lower extremity ultrasound which enrolled all patients over a 7 month period sent to their department for the workup of PE, employing blinded interpretation of CT and US studies. 79 consecutive patients were referred to the department, with 14 being excluded from the study (5 due to unavailability of radiologists to perform US, 5 suffered bronchospasm after chest CT, and four for technical reasons). This left 65 patients enrolled in the study. All enrolled patients received a CTPA according to their protocol, followed by contiguous axial CT of the lower extremities (2-3 min after contrast injection for the chest ct, without additional contrast), scanning from the mid-calf to the pelvis. Standardized routines were used to optimize deep venous enhancement (elevation of legs, tourniquets above ankles and thighs). Patients were then scanned from the pelvis to the intrahepatic IVC at 40mm intervals. CTs were interpreted by two separate radiologists unaware of ultrasound results. “Subsequent consensus was achieved for final interpretation in all cases.” All patients had lower extremity ultrasound within 24hrs of the CT. All ultrasound studies were performed by two radiologists unaware of CT findings. Two radiologists interpreted all US’s without information regarding CT findings. “Discrepancies were resolved by consensus.” Lower limb ascending phlebography was used in 12 patients with discordant results between CT and US. 2 other patients who had discordant results refused phleobography, 1 patient could not be catheterized. For these three patients, “final diagnosis was reached by consensus of the three observers.” Sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values were calculated for both modalities in detecting DVT. 7. WHAT ARE THE RESULTS? 35% (22) of the patients had PE and 25% (16) had a DVT. 59% (13) of patients with PE had a DVT, and 19% (3) patients only had a DVT.