Linda Broyde Haramati MD, MS, Presenter: Investor, OrthoSpace Ltd Investor, Kryon Systems Ltd Spouse, Board Member, Bio Protect Ltd Spouse, Board Member, OrthoSpace Ltd Spouse, Board Member, Kryon Systems Ltd

1) To become familiar with structured and unstructured risk assessment for patients with suspected pulmonary embolism. 2) To review the impact of disease prevalence on the performance characteristics of diagnostic tests. 3) To understand the strengths and weakness of various strategies for imaging patients with suspected pulmonary embolism.

Patient suspected of having a pulmonary embolism initially present for clinical evaluation and may be referred for imaging. There is a great deal of geographic and institutional variability in the disease prevalce for patients who undergo imaging. As in other areas of medicine, the performance characteristics of imaging tests varies with the disease prevalence.   This session will discuss different methods used to determine whether imaging is performed including structured vs unstructured risk assessment and D-dimer.  The various imaging modalities that are employed with an emphasis on CTA and V/Q scanning and a brief discussion of leg ultrasound and echocardiography. Practical imaging strategies vary with intistitutional resourses. V/Q scanning should maintain an active role in the imaging armamentarium .   

http://media.rsna.org/media/abstract/2014/14000779/RC101B Sec.pdf

Haramati, L, Optimizing Imaging Utilization.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14000779.html