Pulmonary bone cement embolism: CT angiographic evaluation with material decomposition using gemstone spectral imaging

• Published in: Korean journal of radiology Vol. 15; no. 4; pp. 443 - 447
• Main Authors: Huh, Sun, Lee, Heon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Society of Radiology 01.07.2014; 대한영상의학회
• Subjects: Angiography - methods; Asymptomatic; Blood clots; Blood pressure; Bone Cements - adverse effects; Cardiovascular Imaging; Dyspnea; Dyspnea - etiology; Epidural; Female; Fractures; Humans; Hypotension; Hypotension - etiology; Iodine; Lung - diagnostic imaging; Medical imaging; Middle Aged; Polymethyl methacrylate; Pulmonary arteries; Pulmonary Artery - diagnostic imaging; Pulmonary Embolism - diagnostic imaging; Pulmonary Embolism - etiology; Pulmonary embolisms; Software; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods; Veins & arteries; Vertebroplasty; Visualization; 방사선과학; Pulmonary embolism; Dual-energy CT; Bone cement; Spectral imaging
• ISSN: 1229-6929; 2005-8330
• DOI: 10.3348/kjr.2014.15.4.443

We report a case of pulmonary bone cement embolism in a female who presented with dyspnea following multiple sessions of vertebroplasty. She underwent spectral CT pulmonary angiography and the diagnosis was made based on enhanced visualization of radiopaque cement material in the pulmonary arteries and a corresponding decrease in the parenchymal iodine content. Here, we describe the CT angiography findings of bone cement embolism with special emphasis on the potential benefits of spectral imaging, providing additional information on the material composition.