The role of spiral computerized tomography in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism

The diagnostic strategy of pulmonary embolism has changed in the last few years with the use of the pulmonary spiral angio-scan. It has become the investigation of first intention for the positive diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. Its limitations are known, essentially the difficulties in visualisation of distal pulmonary embolism. However, the introduction of new 64-slice scanners has considerably improved the resolution. The indications of the spiral angioscanner have recently increased with the study of pulmonary artery vascularisation and the calculation of Qanadli's obstruction index, the study of the peripheral venous system and the evaluation of right ventricular dysfunction by the calculation of the ratio of surfaces (or diameters) of RV/LV.