An audit of ventilation and perfusion SPECT reporting for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in a tertiary cardiothoracic centre. Issue 11 (20th November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kannan, Shanthi; Rose, David S.; Lee, Joseph C.; Yeung, Francis Y. F.
• Is Part Of: Internal medicine journal. Volume 50:Issue 11(2020)
• Page Start: 1419
• Page End: 1422
• Publication Date: 2020-11-20
• Subjects: V/Q SPECT -- pulmonary embolism -- computed tomography -- diagnosis -- ventilation perfusion reporting; Medicine -- Periodicals; 616
• DOI: 10.1111/imj.15065
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1444-0903

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of the study was to identify reporting patterns of ventilation and perfusion single‐photon emission computed tomography (V/Q SPECT) scans done in our department over 3 months in 2016. Factors impacting on reporting and patient groups that would most benefit from the addition of low‐dose computed tomography (CT) to V/Q SPECT were analysed. Among 178 patients, 173 (97.2%) had a definitive (positive/negative) report and 2.8% had an equivocal report. As the majority of the equivocal reports were seen in patients aged ≥70 years, we believe that addition of low‐dose CT with V/Q SPECT to this patient group will reduce the non‐diagnostic rate.