How can ventilation perfusion scans be utilized in the evaluation of chronic PE? Patients who are found to have pulmonary hypertension or other clinical symptoms or signs that may be due to chronic PE as a potential etiology can undergo a V/Q scan to assess for mismatched perfusion defects. A V/Q scan cannot be easily …
How can ventilation perfusion scans be utilized in the evaluation of chronic PE Read More »
What are the causes of mismatched perfusion defects on a ventilation perfusion scan? Although mismatched perfusion defects are most likely to be associated with acute PE, there are other potential etiologies that should be considered as well. Some of these causes are listed below Some Causes of Mismatched Perfusion Defects on a V/Q Scan • Acute …
Causes of mismatched perfusion defects on a ventilation perfusion scan Read More »
What is the significance of a triple match on a ventilation perfusion scan and chest radiograph? A “triple match” refers to a ventilation scan defect and a perfusion scan defect that match each other and are also matched to an area of opacification on the corresponding chest radiograph. The implication of such a finding is …
Significance of a triple match on a ventilation perfusion scan and chest radiograph Read More »
How does a quantitative ventilation perfusion scan assist in preparing patients for lung surgery? Quantitative V/Q scans help in the preoperative assessment of patients by demonstrating areas of the lung that have the poorest overall function. This may help direct surgeons to preferentially resect those areas of lung that have the worst function. Perhaps more …
What are the normal findings on a ventilation perfusion scan? A normal V/Q scan consists of uniform ventilation throughout both lung fields. On a 133 Xe ventilation scan, there is usually good inflow of the gas, uniform radiotracer activity in the lungs during the equilibrium phase that lasts approximately 3 minutes as the patient breathes into the …
How do aerosols compare to xenon 133 for use in a ventilation scan? 133 Xe is a radioactive isotope of an inert noble gas. It can be inhaled into the lungs and will wash out quickly in a normal lung, although there will be persistent radiotracer activity (gas trapping) in parts of the lung affected by …
How do aerosols compare to xenon 133 for use in a ventilation scan Read More »
In what order are imaging studies obtained in the workup of patients with suspected acute pulmonary embolism? The first imaging study performed in a patient with suspected pulmonary embolism is typically a chest radiograph. This will often reveal as well as exclude many underlying etiologies and is also necessary for the adequate evaluation of a …