Filling Defect in the Pulmonary Artery
A dark, un-enhanced area within the bright, contrast-filled pulmonary artery, representing a blood clot obstructing blood flow.
Description
Iodine-based contrast is injected intravenously while a CT scanner rapidly captures cross-sectional images of the chest. Originating in the 1990s as helical CT technology advanced, it provides detailed 3D reconstructions of the pulmonary vasculature. It is the definitive clinical test for detecting blockages in the lung's blood supply.