biostudies-literatureLe Pennec RBrest University HospitalInternational Network of Venous Thromboembolism Research Networkse075712https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11097801biostudies-literatureUnknown14(5)<h4>Introduction</h4>Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a challenge to diagnose and when missed, exposes patients to potentially fatal recurrent events. Beyond CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and planar ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) scan, single photon emission CT (SPECT) V/Q emerged a new diagnostic modality of scintigraphic acquisition that has been reported to improve diagnostic performances. To date, no management outcome study or randomised trial evaluated an algorithm based on SPECT V/Q for PE diagnosis. We present the design of a randomised multicentre, international management study comparing SPECT V/Q with validated strategies.<h4>Material and methods</h4>We will include a total of 3672 patients with suspected PE requiring chest imaging, randomised into three different groups, each using a BMJ openComparison of three diagnostic strategies for suspicion of pulmonary embolism: planar ventilation-perfusion scan (V/Q), CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and single photon emission CT ventilation-perfusion scan (SPECT V/Q): a protocol of a randomised controlled trial.PMC11097801N/ALe Roux PYSalaun PYRobin PRighini MLe Gal GLe Pennec RCouturaud FfalseComparison of three diagnostic strategies for suspicion of pulmonary embolism: planar ventilation-perfusion scan (V/Q), CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and single photon emission CT ventilation-perfusion scan (SPECT V/Q): a protocol of a randomised controlled trial.<h4>Introduction</h4>Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a challenge to diagnose and when missed, exposes patients to potentially fatal recurrent events. Beyond CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and planar ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) scan, single photon emission CT (SPECT) V/Q emerged a new diagnostic modality of scintigraphic acquisition that has been reported to improve diagnostic performances. To date, no management outcome study or randomised trial evaluated an algorithm based on SPECT V/Q for PE diagnosis. We present the design of a randomised multicentre, international management study comparing SPECT V/Q with validated strategies.<h4>Material and methods</h4>We will include a total of 3672 patients with suspected PE requiring chest imaging, randomised into three different groups, each using a 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 May2026-06-02T11:25:26.085Z2026-05-27T03:07:44.974ZS-EPMC110978013875488010.1136/bmjopen-2023-075712