Pulmonary arteriography is primarily indicated for evaluating which condition?

• A. Suspected pulmonary embolus
• B. Myocardial infarction
• C. Carotid stenosis
• D. Peripheral artery disease

Answer: (A)

Pulmonary arteriography is used to visualize the pulmonary arteries and look for occlusions caused by emboli. This makes it best suited for evaluating a suspected pulmonary embolus, especially when noninvasive tests don’t give a clear answer or when precise arterial anatomy is needed for management. While it used to be the definitive test for PE, CT pulmonary angiography is now preferred for its noninvasiveness and speed. The other conditions—myocardial infarction, carotid stenosis, and peripheral artery disease—are evaluated with imaging focused on their respective arterial beds (coronary, carotid, and peripheral arteries) rather than the pulmonary arteries.