Key result
Indeterminate lung scintigraphy scan results were associated with significantly lower survival than normal or high probability scans in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism.
Why the study?
Does an indeterminate lung scintigraphy scan result predict worse survival compared to normal or high probability scans in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism?
Cohort (n=1,818)
Does an indeterminate lung scintigraphy scan result predict worse survival compared to normal or high probability scans in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism?
Indeterminate lung scintigraphy scan results in patients with suspected PE are associated with a poorer prognosis compared to normal or high-probability scans, justifying careful follow-up.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Indeterminate scans flag higher-risk patients with suspected PE; leaves open whether targeted diagnostics or therapies alter outcomes.
AIM: To determine whether the survival of patients with suspected acute pulmonary embolism (PE) relates to radiological probability of acute PE assessed using lung scintigraphy scans (LSS). METHODS: Lung scintigraphy scan results from a venous thromboembolism database were categorised as high, indeterminate or low probability using the modified PIOPED criteria and corresponding chest X-rays (CXRs) as normal or abnormal. Mortality data on these cases were obtained from the General Register Office for Scotland, and survival was analysed using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Of the 1,818 LSS analysed, 941 (51.8%) were normal, 532 (29.3%) indeterminate and 345 (19.0%) high probability. After an adjustment for age and gender, no significant survival difference was found between patients with normal and high probability LSS (p=0.182). However, patients with indeterminate LSS had significantly lower survival than patients in the other groups. This difference persisted after adjustment for CXR result. CONCLUSIONS: Indeterminate LSS results are associated with a poor prognosis. Careful follow-up of patients with inderminate LSS would appear to be justified.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Al-Adhami et al. (2010) conducted a cohort in Suspected acute pulmonary embolism (n=1,818). Indeterminate lung scintigraphy scan (LSS) result vs. Normal and high probability LSS results was evaluated on Survival. Indeterminate lung scintigraphy scan results were associated with significantly lower survival than normal or high probability scans in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: