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Transthoracic sonography for the detection of pulmonary embolism--a meta-analysis.

Authors :
Niemann T
Egelhof T
Bongartz G
Source :
Ultraschall in der Medizin (Stuttgart, Germany : 1980) [Ultraschall Med] 2009 Apr; Vol. 30 (2), pp. 150-6. Date of Electronic Publication: 2009 Feb 27.
Publication Year :
2009

Abstract

Purpose: Radiation protection is a major issue since the implementation of MSCT technology and its widespread indication for the detection of various diseases. In a European-wide trial (SECT) meta-analyses of imaging alternatives to CT have been initiated. This paper focuses on the diagnostic performance of transthoracic ultrasound (TUS) for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) (5 studies, 652 patients).<br />Materials and Methods: Medical literature (from 1990 to 2006) in PubMed and EMBASE databases was searched for articles on studies that used TUS as diagnostic tests for PE. Studies were included if they reported the positive and negative rates of PE diagnoses from TUS compared with the rates of PE in CT, MRI or a combination of diagnostic tests. Two readers assessed the quality of the studies.<br />Results: Pooled sensitivity and specificity of TUS for PE were 80 % (95 % CI: 75 %, 83 %) and 93 % (95 % CI: 89 %, 96 %), respectively.<br />Conclusion: In the time of MSCT, TUS is an imaging modality that is no longer part of recent diagnostic algorithms for the diagnosis of PE. Considering the increasing number of requested CT examinations and therefore increasing collective radiation dose, this meta-analysis shows that TUS is a diagnostic alternative for special clinical settings in the work-up of suspected PE that seems to have fallen into oblivion.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1438-8782
Volume :
30
Issue :
2
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Ultraschall in der Medizin (Stuttgart, Germany : 1980)
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
19253205
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2008-1027856