[Experience with routine use of combined inhalation-perfusion lung scintigraphy. The most reliable diagnosis of pulmonary embolism].

The authors performed combined inhalation/perfusion scintigraphy in 217 patients with suspected pulmonary embolism in order to improve the diagnostic accuracy. Before the conventional perfusion study they also visualized the distribution of ventilation with a Venticis-II inhalator equipment. Regarding pulmonary embolism 10 (5%), 96 (44%), 39 (18%) investigations were "very low", "low", and "high probability", respectively. The inhalation study was successful in 93 percent of patients. These results were necessary in 141 patients. However, it was uncertain in 26% of cases (57 patients) concerning the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. As the inhalation scintigraphy was applied without preselection, this study was unnecessary in 30%. On the other hand, if the combined studies had been performed only in the cases of previously proved segmental perfusion defects, the number of perfusion scintigraphies would have increased by 65%. The authors recommend the routine use of the inhalation lung scintigraphy.