| Summary: | INTRODUCTION[|]This study is an examination of the frequency of parenchymal and pleural findings in cases with and without pulmonary embolism (PE) observed on a computed tomography (CT) examination and the relationship between parenchymal/pleural CT findings and PE.[¤]METHODS[|]The pulmonary CT angiography findings of 121 consecutive patients referred with a suspected PE diagnosis were retrospectively reviewed. The presence and distribution of PE, the diameter of the truncus pulmonalis, and the presence and location of any pleural effusion was examined. In addition, the possible presence of atelectasis, ground glass opacity, consolidation, linear opacity, triangular peripheral opacity, vascular sign, oligemia, nodules, or a mass was investigated in the parenchyma window.[¤]RESULTS[|]PE was confirmed in 39 of 121 suspected cases (32.23%). No PE was detected in 82 of 121 patients (67.77%). In 15.4% of the PE-diagnosed cases, an embolism was detected in the right lung only, while in 10.3% it was observed in the left lung only, and in 74.4% it was observed in both lungs. At least 1 of the parenchymal and pleural findings identified in the methods section was detected in 89% of the PE cases. At least 1 of the parenchymal and pleural findings was also detected in 86.6% of the cases without PE. Pleural effusion was observed in 26.6% of patients with PE and 35.4% of patients without PE. There was a statistically significant association between triangular peripheral opacity and vascular sign.[¤]DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION[|]Parenchymal and pleural findings were seen in the majority of pulmonary CT angiography cases with a preliminary diagnosis of PE, whether or not PE was detected. A statistically significant correlation was found between triangular opacity and vascular sign and the presence of PE.[¤]
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