Saddle Pulmonary Embolism - CTA Chest

Saddle Pulmonary Embolism - CTA Chest

Acute pulmonary emboli can be seen on CT as intraluminal filling defects. CT pulmonary angiography (CTA Chest, CTPE, CTPA) will show filling defects within the pulmonary vasculature with pulmonary emboli.

The central filling defect from the thrombus is surrounded by a thin rim of contrast. Can be "saddle" formation where the clot can be in both right and left pulmonary arteries -- this is a critical and likely hemodynamically significant.