Correspondence (letter to the editor): Don't Forget Ventilation-Perfusion Scintigraphy

The authors of the article seem to be under the impression that multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) has completely taken over from ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy in diagnosing acute pulmonary embolism.

It is certainly correct that MDCT is more readily available in emergency situations (especially during night shifts), but limitations often arise owing to the necessary administration of iodine containing contrast medium. In patients with allergies to contrast medium, different thyroid dysfunctions, and renal failure, administration of contrast medium, and therefore MDCT, is often not possible. Especially in these cases, ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy is the method of choice for diagnosing acute pulmonary embolism, as it is non-invasive, low-risk, and tried and tested. An embolism can be detected with a sensitivity of 96–97% and a specificity of 90–95%.