Pulmonary Embolism

Pulmonary Embolism ( Blood Clots in the Lung ) is a potentially life-threatening condition.

Patients usually present with pleuritic chest pain ( like a “stitch” ) and shortness of breath.

It can occur spontaneously with no precipitating factors. More commonly however, it is associated with prolonged immobilisation such as long flights or journeys whereby the circulation in the lower limbs are compromised, post-operative whereby the blood is “thicker” and those with a family history of clotting disorders.

LUNG SCAN is performed to diagnose Pulmonary Embolus. The scan consists of 2 parts: the VENTILATION part and the PERFUSION part.

In a NORMAL lung scan, the ventilation and perfusion should be virtually identical.

Pulmonary Embolism is diagnosed when there are perfusion defects in the presence of normal ventilation.

The arrows in the picture below showed the perfusion defects consistent with multiple Pulmonary Embolus.