Interest of chest X-ray in tailoring the diagnostic strategy in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism. Issue 6 (September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Robin, Philippe; Le Roux, Pierre-Yves; Tissot, Valentin; Delluc, Aurélien; Le Duc-Pennec, Alexandra; Abgral, Ronan; Palard, Xavier; Couturaud, Francis; Le Gal, Grégoire; Salaun, Pierre-Yves
• Is Part Of: Blood coagulation and fibrinolysis. Volume 26:Issue 6(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Subjects: Blood -- Coagulation -- Periodicals; Fibrinolysis -- Periodicals; Hemostasis -- Periodicals; Thrombosis -- Periodicals; Blood Coagulation -- Periodicals; Fibrinolysis -- Periodicals; Hemostasis -- Periodicals; Thrombosis -- Periodicals; 612.115
• DOI: 10.1097/MBC.0000000000000309
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0957-5235

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <p>Current diagnostic strategies for pulmonary embolism rely on the sequential use of noninvasive diagnostic tests including ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scan and computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA). V/Q scan remains criticized because of a high proportion of nondiagnostic test results, especially when the chest X-ray (CXR) is abnormal. The present study assesses whether CXR results have an impact on the conclusiveness of a noninvasive diagnostic strategy of pulmonary embolism based on the combination of pretest probability, compression ultrasonography, V/Q scan, and CTPA. Patients suspected of having pulmonary embolism were managed according to a validated diagnostic strategy. All patients underwent a CXR within 24 h of the suspicion of pulmonary embolism. CXR results were correlated to strategy conclusiveness, as assessed by the rate of required CTPA as per the diagnostic algorithm. Two hundred and twenty-three patients were retrospectively analyzed. CXRs were considered as normal in 108 (48%) patients and abnormal in 115 (52%) patients. According to the diagnostic algorithm, a CTPA was required to reach a diagnostic conclusion in 11 (10%) patients of the normal CXR group, and in 14 (12%) patients of the abnormal CXR group (<italic>P </italic>> 0.05). In this study, the presence of CXR abnormalities did not have an impact on the conclusiveness of a diagnostic strategy of pulmonary embolism based on V/Q scan. CXR abnormalities should likely not be regarded as a contraindication to the use of V/Q scan in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism.</p> </sec> </abstract>