Predictive value of insufficient contrast medium filling in pulmonary veins in patients with acute pulmonary embolism

This study is to investigate the predictive value of insufficient contrast medium filling (ICMF) in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). A total of 108 PE patients were enrolled and divided into group A and group B according to the presence of ICMF. PE index and ventricul araxial lengths were measured. Heart cavity volumes were examined and right ventricle (RV) to left ventricle (LV) diameter ratio (RV/LV((d))) and volume ratio (RV/LV((V))) and right atrium (RA) to left atrium (LA) volume ratio (RA/LA((V))) were calculated and compared. Group A was further divided into A1 and A2 based upon the pulmonary vein filling degree and each index was compared. There were no significant differences between group A and B in general condition. PE index of group A was higher than that of group B. LA and LV in group A were smaller than that of group B, whereas RA in group A was larger than that of group B. RV/LV((d)), RV/LV((V)), and RA/LA((V)) in group A were significantly larger than that of group B. Embolism index of group A2 was higher than that of groupA1, but without statistical significant difference. LA in group A2 was smaller than that of group A1, whereas RA, RV/LV((d)), and RV/LV((V)) were larger than that of group A1, all with significant differences. PE increased with serious ICMF in pulmonary veins could be used as an indicator for risk stratification in patients with acute PE.