BJR
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
British Journal of Radiology (2006) 79, 441-444
© 2006 British Institute of Radiology
doi: 10.1259/bjr/15144573
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Matthews, S
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Matthews, S

Short communication

Imaging pulmonary embolism in pregnancy: what is the most appropriate imaging protocol?

S Matthews, MBBS, MRCP, FRCR

Radiology Department, Northern General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S5 7AU, UK

Pulmonary embolism is the leading cause of death in pregnancy. Despite the difficulties in clinical diagnosis and the concerns regarding radiation of the fetus, the British Thoracic Society guidelines for imaging pulmonary embolism do not specifically address the issue of imaging for pulmonary embolism in this group. This communication discusses the difficulties of diagnosis and imaging pulmonary embolism in pregnancy and proposes a suitable imaging protocol. Clinical exclusion of patients from further imaging is recommended if the patient has a low pre-test probability of pulmonary embolism and a normal d-dimer. It is advised that all remaining patients undergo bilateral leg Doppler assessment. If this test is positive, the patient should be treated for pulmonary embolism; if negative, all patients should be referred for CT pulmonary angiography. Ideally, informed consent should be obtained prior to CT scanning. All neonates exposed to iodinated contrast in utero should have their thyroid function tested in the first week of life due to the theoretical risk of contrast induced hypothyroidism.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 NEJMHome page
L. Larson, M. Miller, N. Mehta, S. Dholakia, N. de Mendonca, M. Hayes, G. Bourjeily, K. Rosene-Montella, N. Hoftman, P. E. Marik, et al.
Venous Thromboembolic Disease and Pregnancy
N. Engl. J. Med., February 5, 2009; 360(6): 638 - 640.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 RadiologyHome page
R. A. Halvorsen
Which Study When? Iodinated Contrast-enhanced CT Versus Gadolinium-enhanced MR Imaging
Radiology, October 1, 2008; 249(1): 9 - 15.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Br. J. Radiol.Home page
S K DOSHI, I S NEGUS, and J M ODUKO
Fetal radiation dose from CT pulmonary angiography in late pregnancy: a phantom study
Br. J. Radiol., August 1, 2008; 81(968): 653 - 658.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 RadiologyHome page
M. Remy-Jardin, M. Pistolesi, L. R. Goodman, W. B. Gefter, A. Gottschalk, J. R. Mayo, and H. D. Sostman
Management of Suspected Acute Pulmonary Embolism in the Era of CT Angiography: A Statement from the Fleischner Society
Radiology, November 1, 2007; 245(2): 315 - 329.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 RadioGraphicsHome page
C. H. McCollough, B. A. Schueler, T. D. Atwell, N. N. Braun, D. M. Regner, D. L. Brown, and A. J. LeRoy
Radiation Exposure and Pregnancy: When Should We Be Concerned?
RadioGraphics, July 1, 2007; 27(4): 909 - 917.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 RadiologyHome page
P. D. Stein, P. K. Woodard, J. G. Weg, T. W. Wakefield, V. F. Tapson, H. D. Sostman, T. A. Sos, D. A. Quinn, K. V. Leeper Jr, R. D. Hull, et al.
Diagnostic Pathways in Acute Pulmonary Embolism: Recommendations of the PIOPED II Investigators
Radiology, January 1, 2007; 242(1): 15 - 21.
[Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
BJR DMFR IMAGING  ALL BIR JOURNALS 
Copyright © 2006 by the British Institute of Radiology.