Radiology Practice Test

CT Pulmonary Angiography is recognized as the gold standard for diagnosing pulmonary embolism due to its high sensitivity and specificity for detecting blood clots in the pulmonary arteries. This imaging technique utilizes contrast material to visualize the blood vessels of the lungs, allowing for clear identification of emboli. The rapid acquisition of images during a single breath-hold ensures minimal motion artifact, which enhances the clarity and detail of the vascular structures. Additionally, CT Pulmonary Angiography is a minimally invasive procedure that can be completed quickly in emergency settings, providing timely information that is critical for patient management. Its effectiveness surpasses other imaging modalities in both detecting small pulmonary emboli and assessing the extent of embolization. In contrast, while MRI is useful in certain situations such as in patients with contraindications to CT contrast, it is not routinely used for pulmonary embolism due to lower availability and the longer time required for imaging. Ultrasound is primarily used for assessing deep vein thrombosis rather than directly visualizing pulmonary emboli, and chest X-rays are not sensitive or specific for diagnosing pulmonary embolism, often appearing normal in many cases of acute embolism.