RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 3D contrast-enhanced lung perfusion MRI is an effective screening tool for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: results from the ASPIRE Registry
JF Thorax
JO Thorax
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Thoracic Society
SP 677
OP 678
DO 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2012-203020
VO 68
IS 7
A1 Smitha Rajaram
A1 Andrew J Swift
A1 Adam Telfer
A1 Judith Hurdman
A1 Helen Marshall
A1 Eleanor Lorenz
A1 David Capener
A1 Christine Davies
A1 Catherine Hill
A1 Charlie Elliot
A1 Robin Condliffe
A1 Jim M Wild
A1 David G Kiely
YR 2013
UL http://thorax.bmj.com/content/68/7/677.abstract
AB Background Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a complication of pulmonary embolism potentially curable by surgery. Perfusion scintigraphy is currently advocated as the imaging modality of choice to exclude CTEPH due to its high sensitivity. We have evaluated the diagnostic utility of lung perfusion MRI. Methods Consecutive patients attending a pulmonary hypertension referral centre undergoing lung perfusion MRI, perfusion scintigraphy, CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and right heart catheterisation within 14 days were identified. Results Of 132 patients, 78 were diagnosed as having CTEPH. Lung perfusion MRI correctly identified 76 patients as having CTEPH with an overall sensitivity of 97%, specificity 92%, positive predictive value 95% and negative predictive value 96% compared with perfusion scintigraphy (sensitivity 96%, specificity 90%) and CTPA (sensitivity 94%, specificity 98%). No cases of surgically accessible CTEPH were missed with either modality. Conclusions Lung perfusion MRI has high sensitivity equivalent to perfusion scintigraphy in diagnosing CTEPH but does not require ionising radiation, making it an attractive initial imaging modality to assess patients with suspected CTEPH.