Pulmonary Embolism

Sometimes blood clots that form in the deep veins of the legs can travel upwards and settle in the pulmonary arteries. These blood clots block the normal blood flow to the lungs. This condition is called pulmonary embolism. Patients who have been immobile for extended periods of time are particularly vulnerable to this condition, as are patients with cancer and/or clotting disorders. Pulmonary embolism can be fatal unless detected and treated in time. A doctor who suspects a patient has pulmonary embolism may order a special type of CT scan, called a CT Andiogram. In a CT Andiogram, the physician injects iodine into the vein faster than in other CT scans, and thinner, more numerous “slices” of the chest are taken to provide a clearer view of the arteries in the lungs.