Saddle pulmonary embolism on non-contrast CT

Abstract

Background: A saddle pulmonary embolism (PE) is a large embolism that straddles the bifurcation of the pulmonary trunk. This PE extends into the right and left pulmonary arteries. There is a greater incidence in males. Common features of a PE include dyspnea, tachypnea, cough, hemoptysis, pleuritic chest pain, tachycardia, hypotension, jugular venous distension, and severe cases Kussmaul sign. The Wells criteria for PE is used as the pretest probability. Diagnostics include D-dimer levels, CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA), ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy (V/Q scan), echocardiography, lower extremity venous ultrasound, chest x-ray, pulmonary angiography, and electrocardiography (ECG). Case description: We present a 65-year-old male that presented with a two-week history of dyspnea with non-radiating intermittent chest pressure. Initial V/Q scan showed a low probability for PE, but a subsequent non-contrast CT revealed that he indeed had a saddle PE.