PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Zahra Raisi Estabragh AU - Arun Lakhanpal AU - Adeel Ashraf AU - Robert Hewson AU - Hassan Burhan TI - Ventilation – Perfusion scan outcome when the chest radiograph is abnormal DP - 2011 Sep 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - p579 VI - 38 IP - Suppl 55 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p579.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p579.full SO - Eur Respir J2011 Sep 01; 38 AB - Introduction: Guidelines recommend isotope lung scanning (V/Q) may be considered as first line investigation for suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) provided there are facilities on site and a chest radiograph (CXR) is normal. Occasionally, V/Q scans are performed in the presence of an abnormal CXR.Aim: To study the diagnostic yield of V/Q scans in patients with suspected PE and an abnormal CXR.Method: All patients who had a V/Q scan for suspected PE over a period of 12 months from February 2008 were included in the study. The CXR and V/Q scan reports were recorded.Results: 1041 V/Q scans were performed at our institution with a preceding CXR. Of these, 345 CXRs were reported as abnormal.View this table:Of the 345 patients with an abnormal CXR that had a V/Q scan, 275 (80%) were reported as Low, 25 (7%) Moderate and 40 (12%) as High probability of PE. 5 patients scans were not formally reported.Of those in the Low Probability group, 9 had a subsequent CTPA with 1 (0.004%) being positive for PE, in the Moderate Probability group 20 had a subsequent CTPA with 5 (20%) being positive for PE and in the High Probability group 6 had a subsequent CTPA with 2 (5%) being positive for PE.Discussion: One third of the patients that had a V/Q scan to investigate suspected PE had an abnormal CXR. Despite this, 275 (80%) of these patients had a low probability scan, 9 of these patients went on to have a CTPA and only 1 was positive for PE.A low probability V/Q scan may prevent unnecessary radiation exposure and adequately exclude PE, even in the presence of an abnormal CXR.