Thrombus Density Associated With 30-Day Mortality in Intermediate-Risk PE

Background: Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a major contributor to global cardiovascular morbidity. Although CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is the standard for diagnosis, existing clinical tools often struggle to precisely predict short-term mortality. Emerging evidence suggests that Hounsfield unit (HU) measurements reflecting thrombus radiodensity can provide insights into a clot’s organization and biological stability, which may impact clinical outcomes. Objective: To evaluate the association between pulmonary artery thrombus density on CTPA and 30-day mortality in patients with intermediate-risk PE. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: 121 intermediate-risk PE patients, diagnosed between early 2022 and late 2024 at a tertiary center, were examined. Radiologists measured thrombus density in Hounsfield units at specific pulmonary artery locations on admission CTPA. Researchers used multivariate logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analysis to id more...