Finding an alternative diagnosis does not justify increased use of CT-pulmonary angiography

BMC Pulmonary Medicine

Table 2 CTPA positivity rate and location of pulmonary emboli

CTPA Results	2000	2005	2008	Total	p
n	74	383	393	850
*Embolus present (%)*	25.7	19.1	14.8	17.7	0.048
*Location of embolus for positive studies (%)*
Central PE	89.6	46.6	51.8	53.9	0.003
Peripheral PE	10.5	53.4	48.3	46

Central PE was defined as PE in the pulmonary trunk, right or left main pulmonary arteries or lobar arteries while PE in segmental or sub-segmental branches were considered peripheral.
There was no correlation between pre-test probability by RGS and location or size of PE.

ISSN: 1471-2466