CT pulmonary angiography in pregnant and postpartum women: Low yield, high dose

Eric J. Jordan, Alla Godelman, Jeffrey M. Levsky, Benjamin Zalta, Linda B. Haramati

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the diagnostic utility of computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) in pregnant/postpartum women with age-matched controls. Materials: We performed a retrospective case-control series of pregnant/postpartum women and control women who underwent CTPA from 2008 to 2011. Results: The study included 34 pregnant women, 16 postpartum women, and 50 controls. CTPAs were positive in 2% of pregnant/postpartum women and 16% of controls (P= .003). The main pulmonary artery mean opacification was 271 Hounsfield units (HU) for pregnant/postpartum women vs. 303 HU (P= 12). Radiation exposure was high in both groups but lower in pregnant/postpartum women, 10 vs. 14. mSv (P= 003). Conclusion: CTPA in pregnant and postpartum women had low yield and remained high dose.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)251-253
Number of pages3
JournalClinical Imaging
Volume39
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2015

Keywords

  • CT pulmonary angiogram
  • Postpartum
  • Pregnancy
  • Pulmonary emboli

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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