ISSN: 1899-0967
Polish Journal of Radiology
Established by prof. Zygmunt Grudziński in 1926 Sun
Current issue Archive Manuscripts accepted About the journal Editorial board Abstracting and indexing Contact Instructions for authors Ethical standards and procedures
Editorial System
Submit your Manuscript
SCImago Journal & Country Rank
2019
vol. 84
 
Share:
Share:
Cardiovascular radiology
abstract:
Original paper

Correlation of acute pulmonal embolism with D-dimer levels and the diameter of the pulmonary trunk in thoracic multislice computed tomography. A single-centre retrospective analysis of 100 patients

Sigmund Stuppner
1
,
Antonio Ruiu
1

1.
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Bolzano Regional Hospital, Bolzano, Italy
© Pol J Radiol 2019; 84: e347-e352
Online publish date: 2019/09/13
View full text Get citation
 
PlumX metrics:
Purpose
The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the correlation between D-dimer levels in positive thrombo­embolic thoracic computed tomography (CT) with the diameter of the pulmonary trunk and to study the relation between the D-dimer and the uni- or bilateralism of the lesions and the presence of pulmonal trunk involvement. We also analysed gender-specific differences in patients with and without dilatation of the pulmonal trunk.

Material and methods
A total of 100 acute care patients (50 men and 50 women) with positive thromboembolic multiple detector computed tomography of the thorax, performed on two modern CT scanners, were retrospectively studied. All thoracic CTs were evaluated by two expert radiologists, with attention paid to the diameter of the pulmonary trunk and the correlation of D-dimer level with the uni-or bilateralism of the lesions. We also analysed sex-specific correlations. All patients underwent multislice computed tomography-examination after applying 70 ml iodinated non-ionic contrast media. Graphpad Prism 8.1.1 software was used for statistical data.

Results
The “strongest” weak correlation resulted between D-dimer levels and the axial diameter of the pulmonal trunk. Considering the correlation between the axial diameter of the pulmonal trunk and gender-related distributions, we found that female patients had higher axial diameters than men. Another weak relationship, almost zero, was found between the D-dimer level and gender. Regarding the correlation between the uni- or bilateralism of thromboembolism and the D-dimer levels, we also found a weak correlation.

Conclusions
This retrospective study showed that D-dimer levels, the diameter of the pulmonal trunk, the location, and gender-related distributions have almost no correlation and are not significantly predictive in imaging.

keywords:

mediastinum, acute pulmonary embolism, multi detector computed tomography (MDCT)




Quick links
© 2024 Termedia Sp. z o.o.
Developed by Bentus.