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Dual-energy computed angiotomography is capable of producing images which potentially provide information on pulmonary perfusion. Recent publications have shown promising results in application of this technique to prove perfusion defects in patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism; however, information on its usefulness in patients with chronic pulmonary thromboembolism is scant. OBJECTIVE: determine if there are changes in pulmonary perfusion, in patients with chronic pulmonary thromboembolism, demonstrable by dual-energy angiotomography. MATERIAL AND METHODS: a prospective study in consecutive patients referred to the tomography department with suspicion of chronic pulmonary thromboembolism at Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chavez. RESULTS: analysis by lobe found a significant difference in arterial perfusion between patients with chronic pulmonary thromboembolism and controls. In the delayed phase, greater perfusion was shown in patients with chronic pulmonary thromboembolism compared with controls; however, the difference was not significant. CONCLUSION: biphasic perfusion by dual-energy pulmonary angiotomography is a tool which helps prove and quantify the functional alterations found in patients with chronic pulmonary thromboembolism. This technique can be useful in patients who are candidates for thromboendarterectomy because collateral circulation, a favorable factor for prognosis, can be qualitatively proved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dual-energy computed angiotomography is capable of producing images which potentially provide information on pulmonary perfusion. Recent publications have shown promising results in application of this technique to prove perfusion defects in patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism; however, information on its usefulness in patients with chronic pulmonary thromboembolism is scant. OBJECTIVE: determine if there are changes in pulmonary perfusion, in patients with chronic pulmonary thromboembolism, demonstrable by dual-energy angiotomography. MATERIAL AND METHODS: a prospective study in consecutive patients referred to the tomography department with suspicion of chronic pulmonary thromboembolism at Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chavez. RESULTS: analysis by lobe found a significant difference in arterial perfusion between patients with chronic pulmonary thromboembolism and controls. In the delayed phase, greater perfusion was shown in patients with chronic pulmonary thromboembolism compared with controls; however, the difference was not significant. CONCLUSION: biphasic perfusion by dual-energy pulmonary angiotomography is a tool which helps prove and quantify the functional alterations found in patients with chronic pulmonary thromboembolism. This technique can be useful in patients who are candidates for thromboendarterectomy because collateral circulation, a favorable factor for prognosis, can be qualitatively proved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]