CTICasesAcute Pulmonary Embolism with Hyperattenuating Clots on Non-Contrast CT
▶ Watch on YouTube — age-restricted, cannot embed here
[...]. Acute Pulmonary Embolism with Hyperattenuating Clots on Non-Contrast CT. CTICases. Published May 15, 2015. https://str-case-explorer.pages.dev/c/hxgdd
Imaging findings
Non-contrast CT, performed as part of an acute aortic syndrome protocol for chest pain, reveals no acute intramural hematoma. However, subtle abnormal hyperattenuation is visible within the pulmonary arteries, particularly in the main pulmonary artery and its branches. Subsequent contrast-enhanced CT confirms these hyperattenuating areas as acute pulmonary emboli (clots).
Key takeaways
Acute pulmonary emboli can occasionally be detected on non-contrast CT due to their hyperattenuating appearance (the "hyperdense clot sign"). While not a primary diagnostic tool for PE, radiologists should be vigilant for this subtle sign, especially when evaluating non-contrast studies for other indications in patients with chest pain. This highlights the importance of scrutinizing all images in a multiphase study.
AI-assisted summary — may contain errors. Verify against the source video. Learn more
More from this webinar
- Miliary Tuberculosis with Ghon ComplexInfection
- Contained Left Ventricular Rupture with Large ThrombusCoronary
- Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (Group 1) in Elderly PatientPulmonary Vascular
- Coiled Ascending Aortic Pseudoaneurysm Post-Dissection RepairAorta & Arteries
- Mitral-Aortic Intervalvular Fibrosa Pseudoaneurysm Post-Mitral Valve ReplacementValvular
- Infected Ascending Aortic Graft (Culture-Negative)Aorta & Arteries
- Missed Type A Aortic Dissection with Giant Ascending Aortic AneurysmAorta & Arteries
- Cystic Lung Disease secondary to Crack Cocaine Use (Crack Lung)Exposure
See all cases from May 15, 2015 →
Related Vascular cases
- Intercostal Artery Pseudoaneurysm secondary to Severe Scoliosis
- Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension Treated with Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy
- Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH) with Cavitary Pulmonary Infarctions
- Chronic Pulmonary Thromboembolism with Pulmonary Infarction and Cavitation
- Nodular Pulmonary Edema
- SVC and IVC Obstruction with Systemic-to-Pulmonary Venous Collaterals