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Description
A 37-year-old man with a background of bronchiectasis secondary to common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) and pulmonary hypertension presented with dyspnoea, tachycardia and hypoxia. He was investigated with a CT pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) for suspected pulmonary embolus (PE). The CTPA was performed during inspiration using bolus-tracking technique (60 mL of non-ionic contrast with a 100 mL saline chaser at 4.5 mL/s with a time delay of 6 s). This revealed a well-opacified pulmonary trunk (506 HU) with multiple filling defects in the main and lobar pulmonary arteries (figure 1A–C). There was background CVID-related bronchiectasis and left lower lobe collapse (figure 1D). Initially, the reporting radiologist concluded that the CTPA was positive for acute pulmonary embolism. However, on further evaluation by specialist chest radiologist, it was noted that despite optimal opacification of the pulmonary trunk, there was layering of contrast in the lobar pulmonary arteries with a ‘smoke-like’ appearance (figure 1A,B). Turbulent flow artefact leading to suboptimal opacification of lobar and segmental pulmonary arteries was suspected. The CTPA was repeated in the resting expiratory position with more prolonged time delay (9 s), showing homogeneous opacification of the pulmonary arteries and excluding pulmonary embolism (figure 2).
A number of diagnostic pitfalls have been described in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism on CT.1 These include technical problems caused by improper bolus timing, respiratory motion artefact, streak artefact, patient body habitus and misinterpretation of normal bronchovascular anatomy. Physiological and pathological processes may alter the contrast kinetics resulting in suboptimal opacification of the vessels. In our case, despite the bolus-tracking method, there was inadequate scanning time delay resulting in suboptimal enhancement of the pulmonary arteries. While bolus-tracking technique aims to maximise contrast in the vessel of interest, early scanning may lead to incomplete mixing of contrast and blood in the vessels distal to the target vessel, leading to suboptimal opacification. The appearances resemble a puff of smoke, a term used by the cardiologists to describe slow flow in echo.2 The smoke-like appearance with turbulent flow has been previously described in a limited number of patients with pulmonary hypertension.3 Similar to our patient, the reported cases have backgrounds of pulmonary hypertension, which can probably explain the turbulent flow. These haemodynamic changes were confirmed in patients with pulmonary hypertension with MRI.4
Flow artefacts make interpretation of CTPA difficult, leading to false-positive results for PE. The basic CT characteristics in distinguishing true emboli from pseudoemboli are well-defined margins and contrast attenuation in the range of 30–60 HU for pulmonary emboli.5 Multiplanar reconstructions can help in distinguishing between flow artefacts and true emboli as they can better illustrate the borders of the filling defects. When flow artefact is suspected, a repeat expiratory CTPA with more delayed and prolonged contrast injection is recommended.6–8
Learning points
Recognition of flow artefacts in interpretation of CT pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) examinations is important to reduce false-positive results and unnecessary anticoagulation therapy.
Conditions such as pulmonary hypertension or cardiac failure may alter the contrast kinetics in CTPA examinations, resulting in suboptimal opacification of the pulmonary arteries. Appropriate modification of the scanning protocol with more delayed and prolonged contrast injection will resolve this artefact.
Footnotes
Contributors Identification of the case: KS. Conception and design: KS and HR. Literature search: KS, HR, EK and JG. Drafting of the manuscript: KS and HR. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: HR, KS, EK and JG. Final approval of the version to be published: KS, JG, EK and HR.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient consent for publication Obtained.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.