Optimal approach to performing and reporting computed tomography angiography for suspected acute pulmonary embolism: a clinical consensus statement of the ESC Working Group on Pulmonary Circulation & Right Ventricular Function, the Fleischner Society, the Association for Acute CardioVascular Care (ACVC) and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) of the ESC, endorsed by European Respiratory Society (ERS), Asian Society of Thoracic Radiology (ASTR), European Society of Thoracic Imaging (ESTI), and Society of Thoracic Radiology (STR)

European Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Imaging, vol. 26, pp. 1085–1098

Abstract

Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is the modality used most frequently for diagnosing acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Given the vast amount of information that can be extracted from CTA, the CTA report should be written in a way that conveys all relevant findings using standardized nomenclature and definitions. Broad consensus on a core set of CTA findings that are relevant for all PE patients is not currently available. This clinical consensus statement written by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Working Group on Pulmonary Circulation and Right Ventricular Function, the Fleischner Society and the Association for Acute Cardiovascular Care and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging of the ESC provides a current update of CTA techniques, a definition of often used nomenclature and recommendations on the proposed content of CTA reports along with a detailed image atlas with instructions on how to assess all relevant CTA findings and a lay language guidance on the meaning of these findings. Ultimately, upon implementation, this document is expected to standardize CTA radiology reports with respect to diagnostic and prognostic CT imaging findings to guide and harmonize management decisions, ultimately improving outcomes of care for PE patients.

Authors 17

1. Frederikus Albertus Klok corresponding Aachen Dept of Medicine - Thrombosis and Hemostasis

   Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz · Leiden University Medical Center · University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

   Affiliation as printed

   Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University , Mainz ,

   Department of Medicine—Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Leiden University Medical Center , LUMC Room C-7-68, ALbinusdreef 2, 2300RC Leiden ,

2. Stefano Barco

   Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz · University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz · University Hospital Zurich

   Affiliation as printed

   Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University , Mainz ,

   Department of Angiology, University Hospital Zurich , Zurich ,

3. Laurent Bertoletti

   Inserm · Mines Saint-Étienne · Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint-Étienne · SAnté INgenierie BIOlogie Saint-Etienne · Université Jean Monnet

   Affiliation as printed

   Département of Médecine Vasculaire et Thérapeutique, CHU Saint-Étienne, Mines Saint-Etienne, INSERM, SAINBIOSE U1059, CIC 1408, Université Jean Monnet Saint-Étienne , Saint-Étienne 42055 ,

4. Sanjeev Bhalla

   Washington University in St. Louis

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Radiology, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO ,

5. Grégoire Le Gal

   University of Ottawa · Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Medicine, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa , Ottawa, Ontario ,

6. Linda Broyde Haramati

   Yale University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine , New Haven, CT ,

7. Erica van Hooidonk
8. Marc Humbert

   Inserm · Université Paris-Saclay · Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris · Bicêtre Hospital

   Affiliation as printed

   Université Paris-Saclay, Faculté de Médecine, Inserm UMR_S 999, Service de Pneumologie, Hôpital Bicêtre, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris , Le Kremlin-Bicêtre ,

9. Stavros Konstantinides

   Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz · University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

   Affiliation as printed

   Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University , Mainz ,

10. Irene Marthe Lang

    Medical University of Vienna

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Internal Medicine II, Division of Cardiology, Medical University of Vienna, Center for Cardiovascular Medicine , Währinger Gürtel 18-20, Vienna 1090 ,

11. Yoshiharu Ohno

    Fujita Health University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine , Toyoake ,

12. Susanna Price

    Royal Brompton Hospital · Imperial College London

    Affiliation as printed

    Faculty of Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College , London ,

    Royal Brompton Hospital, National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London ,

13. Mathias Prokop

    Radboud University Nijmegen · Radboud University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen ,

14. Piotr Pruszczyk

    Medical University of Warsaw

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw , Warsaw ,

15. Alexia Rossi

    University Hospital Zurich

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich ,

16. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite

    University of California San Diego

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Surgery, University of California , San Diego, La Jolla, CA ,

17. Martine Rémy-Jardin

    Radboud University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    IMALLIANCE Hauts-de-France, Valenciennes ,

    Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen ,

    IMALLIANCE Hauts-de-France , Valenciennes,