Computed Tomographic Pulmonary Angiography (CTPA) Findings in Patients with Suspected Pulmonary Embolism

Abstract

Background A workup should be initiated if certain symptoms, even general ones, that are not explained by another illness raise the possibility of pulmonary embolism (PE). The primary imaging procedure that is advised for an individual with suspected pulmonary embolism is computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA). This diagnostic tool (CTPA) is much more sensitive than a standard chest X-ray in identifying a variety of abnormalities that a basic chest X-ray film may easily overlook. Objective This study aims to determine the incidence of pulmonary embolism and any other abnormalities noted on CTPA in patients who were suspected to have PE on clinical grounds and underwent CTPA. Methodology This is a retrospective investigation conducted from January 2020 to December 2022 at Dr. Ziauddin University Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Results This study involved 194 patients in total, of which 99 (51%) were men.  CTPA confirmed PE in 38(19.6%) patients of those with clinical suspicion. Other CTPA findings included atelectasis 59(30.4%), pleural effusion 54(27.8%), pulmonary fibrosis 35(18%), lymphadenopathy 32(16.5%) and consolidation 61(31.4%). Granulomas were frequently discovered in people who were elderly. Conclusion: CTPA is a very useful tool in identifying patients with PE and may also show findings other than PE which may explain the symptoms or establish other diagnosis. Also, certain incidental findings may necessitate further work up or investigation.