Pulmonary CTA Reporting: AJR Expert Panel Narrative Review

AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2022 Mar;218(3):396-404. doi: 10.2214/AJR.21.26646. Epub 2021 Oct 6.

Abstract

Pulmonary CTA is a ubiquitous study interpreted by radiologists with different levels of experience in a variety of practice settings. Pulmonary embolism (PE) can range from an incidental and clinically insignificant finding to a clinically significant thrombus that can be managed on an outpatient basis to a potentially fatal condition requiring immediate medical or invasive management. Accordingly, a clear and concise pulmonary CTA report should effectively communicate the most pertinent findings to help the treating medical team diagnose or exclude PE and provide information to guide appropriate management. In this Expert Panel Narrative Review, we discuss the purpose of the radiology report for pulmonary CTA, the optimal report format, and the relevant findings that need to be addressed and their clinical significance.

Keywords: CT pulmonary angiography; CTPA; pulmonary CTA; pulmonary embolism; pulmonary embolism in transit; report; right heart strain; standardized reporting.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Pulmonary Artery / diagnostic imaging
  • Pulmonary Embolism / diagnostic imaging*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*