Significance of transesophageal contrast echocardiography with the agitated saline test for diagnosing pulmonary arteriovenous malformations.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

This study evaluated the diagnostic value of transesophageal contrast echocardiography (TECE) with the agitated saline test for diagnosing pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) in comparison with chest CT or pulmonary angiography.

Background

Although transthoracic contrast echocardiography (TTCE) is the recommended screening test for diagnosing PAVMs, it has low specificity and positive predictive value. TECE is expected to offer improved sensitivity and specificity compared with TTCE, but no studies have reported the diagnostic accuracy and clinical significance of TECE in detecting PAVMs.

Methods and results

In total, 1,809 patients underwent TECE with the agitated saline test to evaluate symptoms of a suspected right to left shunt. Patients with

SUBMITTER: Lim KH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9497879 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature