Which test is a nuclear medicine study used in PE evaluation?

Which test is a nuclear medicine study used in PE evaluation?

• A. CT Angio
• B. CXR
• C. V/Q scan
• D. Pulmonary Angiography

Answer: (C)

Ventilation-perfusion imaging is a nuclear medicine approach used to evaluate suspected pulmonary embolism. The test uses inhaled radiotracer to assess ventilation (airflow) and intravenously injected radiotracer to assess perfusion (blood flow). In a PE, a portion of the lung receives blood flow blocked by an embolus, but ventilation to that region may be preserved, creating a mismatch between ventilation and perfusion. This mismatch is a hallmark finding on the V/Q scan and is why it’s the nuclear medicine study chosen for PE evaluation. It’s particularly useful when contrast CT isn’t ideal or when a chest X-ray pattern makes interpretation uncertain. Other listed tests are not nuclear medicine studies: CT angiography relies on contrast-enhanced CT, chest X-ray is a plain radiograph, and pulmonary angiography is invasive catheter-based imaging.

Ventilation-perfusion imaging is a nuclear medicine approach used to evaluate suspected pulmonary embolism. The test uses inhaled radiotracer to assess ventilation (airflow) and intravenously injected radiotracer to assess perfusion (blood flow). In a PE, a portion of the lung receives blood flow blocked by an embolus, but ventilation to that region may be preserved, creating a mismatch between ventilation and perfusion. This mismatch is a hallmark finding on the V/Q scan and is why it’s the nuclear medicine study chosen for PE evaluation. It’s particularly useful when contrast CT isn’t ideal or when a chest X-ray pattern makes interpretation uncertain. Other listed tests are not nuclear medicine studies: CT angiography relies on contrast-enhanced CT, chest X-ray is a plain radiograph, and pulmonary angiography is invasive catheter-based imaging.