CTChestIntermediate
Pulmonary embolism (CTPA)
chestvascularCTPAthromboembolismright heart strainemergency
Clinical presentation
Post-operative patient with acute pleuritic chest pain, dyspnoea, tachycardia and a raised D-dimer.
Key imaging findings
- Filling defect (polo-mint / railway-track sign) within an opacified pulmonary artery on CTPA
- Acute emboli form acute angles with the vessel wall and are central
- Right heart strain: RV:LV ratio > 1, septal bowing toward the left
- Possible wedge-shaped peripheral infarct (Hampton hump on radiograph)
Form your diagnosis, then reveal the answer.
Educational teaching content only. Imaging appearances vary; always correlate clinically and confirm with a qualified radiologist.