CT with IV contrast to image pulmonary arteries
Expansion
CT Pulmonary Angiogram
Purpose
Gold standard for diagnosis of pulmonary embolism
Clinical Context
CTPA is contrast-enhanced CT during arterial phase. Excellent for PE detection and risk stratification (central vs peripheral clots).
Related Terms
- V/Q scan:
- D-dimer:
Key Points
- CTPA sensitivity >95% for PE; negative CTPA with low clinical suspicion reliably excludes PE