Computed tomographic patterns of pulmonary thromboembolism and infarction.

A wedge shaped pulmonary density with its broad base against a peripheral pleural surface and with its tip pointing to the parahilar area is suggestive of pulmonary infarction. This pattern can be shown more often with computed tomography (CT) scanning than in plain chest X-ray films. In 16 patients with clinical evidence of pulmonary thromboembolism, often corroborated by diagnostic procedures other than CT, a variety of CT patterns of increased attenuation were noted. In seven (44%) of these cases, a distinct wedge shaped appearance was observed.