الفهرس 
Diagnostic validity of thoracic ultrasound in the assessment of pulmonary embolism
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Abstract
Background Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a fatal cardiovascular emergency. Early diagnosis is fundamental suggesting the need for alternative, easy, and noninvasive bedside diagnostic approaches. Objectives To assess the diagnostic validity of chest ultrasound in cases of suspected pulmonary embolism. Patients and Methods In this prospective study, 25 patients with suspected PE were evaluated in diagnostic and interventional radiology department between February 2018 and September 2018.All the patients were subjected to chest ultrasound followed by definite diagnosis by CT pulmonary angiography. RESULTS: PE was diagnosed in 16 patients. It was shown that TUS was true positive in 12 patients and false positive in one and true negative in 8 and false negative in four. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy of TUS in diagnosis of PE for clinically suspected patients were 75%, 89%, 92%, 67%, and 80%, respectively. Conclusion TUS with a high specificity and diagnostic accuracy, is a noninvasive, widely available, cost-effective method which can be rapidly performed. A negative TUS study cannot rule out PE with certainty, but positive TUS findings with moderate/high suspicion for PE may prove a valuable tool in diagnosis of PE at bedside especially at emergency setting