Otto Lang, Milan Kamínek
Pulmonary embolism is a potentially fatal disease the treatment of which is highly effective. To diagnose pulmonary embolism is not always easy and it usually requires the use of imaging modalities. Chest X ray together with lung scintigraphy have been used as the essential imaging methods in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism for many years. The combination with clinical evaluation and vein system of lower extremities examination makes possible to provide right diagnosis in majority of patients. Chest X ray and lung perfusion scintigraphy are the most available methods; their sensitivity and specificity are around 90 %. Lung ventilation scintigraphy could be added when the diagnosis is unclear. Recently, new imaging methods have emerged, namely CT angiography. Its advantage is time availability, its disadvantage is higher dose of radiation (women breasts).