RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Diagnostic Performance of Pulmonary Embolism Imaging in Patients with History of Asthma
JF Journal of Nuclear Medicine
JO J Nucl Med
FD Society of Nuclear Medicine
SP 399
OP 404
DO 10.2967/jnumed.120.242776
VO 62
IS 3
A1 Matthew S. Lazarus
A1 Yoel Kim
A1 Bertin Mathai
A1 Jeffrey M. Levsky
A1 Leonard M. Freeman
A1 Linda B. Haramati
A1 Renee M. Moadel
YR 2021
UL http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/62/3/399.abstract
AB Asthma and pulmonary embolism (PE) can present with overlapping symptoms, and distinguishing between these 2 conditions can be challenging. Asthma may limit imaging for PE because of either worsened ventilation defects on ventilation–perfusion scanning (VQ) or increased motion artifacts on CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA). Methods: We identified adults evaluated for PE with VQ or CTPA from 2012 to 2016. Patients with chronic lung disease (other than asthma) were excluded. Studies were classified as negative, positive, or nondiagnostic. Follow-up of negative cases was reviewed to determine the rate of repeat exams (within 1 wk) and the false-negative rate (defined as diagnosis of venous thromboembolism within 90 d). Results: We reviewed 19,412 adults (aged 52 ± 18 y, 70% women) evaluated for PE (60% with VQ, 40% with CTPA); 23% had a history of asthma. Nondiagnostic results were comparable for those with and without asthma for both VQ (asthma, 3.3%; nonasthma, 3.8%; P = 0.223) and CTPA (asthma, 1.6%; nonasthma, 1.5%; P = 0.891). A history of asthma was not associated with a higher rate of repeat exams after negative imaging for VQ (asthma, 1.9%; nonasthma, 2.1%; P = 0.547) or CTPA (asthma, 0.6%; nonasthma, 0.6%; P = 0.796), nor was a history of asthma associated with a higher false-negative rate for VQ (asthma, 0.4%; nonasthma, 0.9%; P = 0.015) or CTPA (asthma, 1.9%; nonasthma 1.5%; P = 0.347). Conclusion: A history of asthma in the preceding 10 y was not associated with impaired diagnostic performance of PE imaging for either VQ or CTPA.