[Ventilation perfusion scintigraphy in the management of pulmonary thromboembolism].

BACKGROUND

The Progressive Investigation of Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis (PIOPED) classifies the results of ventilation perfusion scintigraphy as having a high, intermediate and low diagnostic probability of pulmonary embolism or as normal. This classification can be confusing for the clinician.

AIM

To retrospectively review the diagnoses of ventilation perfusion scintigraphies performed at a general hospital.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

All reports of ventilation perfusion scintigraphies done between 1997 and 2000 at the Nuclear Medicine Service of Valdivia Hospital were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

During the study period, 85 patients with suspected pulmonary thromboembolism were referred for a ventilation perfusion scintigraphy and in 70, the procedure was done. Twenty-one (30%) patients were classified as having a high probability of pulmonary thromboembolism, 12 (17%) as having an intermediate probability, 31 (44%) as having a low probability and the scintigraphy was considered normal in 6 (9%) patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The predictive value of ventilation perfusion scintigraphy must be interpreted using this diagnostic classification.