Radiology 2007; 242:15-21.
Stein PD, Woodard PK, Weg JG, Wakefield TW, Tapson VF, Sostman HD, Sos TA, Quinn DA, Leeper Jr. KV, Hull RD, Hales CA, Gottschalk A, Goodman LR, Fowler SE, Buckley JD.
The choice of diagnostic tests depends on the clinical probability of pulmonary embolism, condition of the patient, availability of diagnostic tests, risks of iodinated contrast material, radiation exposure, and cost. Recommendations can now be formulated on the basis of the results of the Prospective Investigation of Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis (PIOPED) II trial (1) and other studies (2-4), albeit with continued reliance on the physician's judgment. The following recommendations include both evidence-based recommendations and opinions based on information available at this time. Both are subject to revision as further data become available. Information related to radiation exposure (5-12), charges for tests, and positive predictive values of clinical probability assessments (2, 13-19) are shown in Tables 1-3.