Abstract
OBJECTIVE. The utility of CT findings in predicting long-term mortality in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is unknown. The purpose of this study is to retrospectively determine whether three CT findings-increased embolic burden, interventricular septal bowing toward the left ventricle, and right ventricle-to-left ventricle (RV/LV) diameter ratio greater than 1-are independent predictors of long-term all-cause mortality after acute PE. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A total of 1105 patients (47% female; mean age, 63 ±16 years) with CT scans positive for PE from January 1, 1997, to December 31, 2002, were included. Scans were independently interpreted by two observers, with a third independent observer reviewing discrepant cases. CT findings and clinical information were compared with all-cause mortality using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS. The median duration of survival was 6.2 years following acute PE, with estimated 10-year survival of 37.4%. CT-derived embolic burden was associated with a very small decrease in long-term all-cause mortality in both univariate (hazard ratio [HR], 0.97; p < 0.001) and multivariate (HR, 0.97; p < 0.001) analyses. Interventricular septal bowing and RV/LV diameter ratio were not significantly associated with long-term all-cause mortality. CONCLUSION. CT findings are not predictive of decreased long-term survival after acute PE.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1346-1352 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | American Journal of Roentgenology |
Volume | 198 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 2012 |
Keywords
- CT
- Outcome
- Pulmonary embolism
- Survival
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging