ABSTRACT
In summary, the PIOPED findings suggest that a high-probability scan has excellent
positive predictive value but identifies fewer than half of all pulmonary emboli. If low-and intermediate-probability scans are considered
negative, a significant number of cases will not be diagnosed. If every patient with abnormal V/Q scans were treated, many patients would be unnecessarily treated. For most patients with suspected PE, V/Q scans must be complemented by further testing to confirm or rule out the diagnosis of PE.
