Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis : JTH
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J. Thromb. Haemost. · Aug 2010
ReviewSubsegmental pulmonary embolism diagnosed by computed tomography: incidence and clinical implications. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the management outcome studies.
Multiple-detectors computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) has a higher sensitivity for pulmonary embolism (PE) within the subsegmental pulmonary arteries as compared with single-detector CTPA. Multiple-detectors CTPA might increase the rate of subsegmental PE diagnosis. The clinical significance of subsegmental PE is unknown. We sought to summarize the proportion of subsegmental PE diagnosed with single- and multiple-detectors CTPA and assess the safety of diagnostic strategies based on single- or multiple-detectors CTPA to exclude PE. ⋯ Multiple-detectors CTPA seems to increase the proportion of patients diagnosed with subsegmental PE without lowering the 3-month risk of thromboembolism suggesting that subsegmental PE may not be clinically relevant.