The most reliable method for diagnosing Pulmonary Embolism is?

Pulmonary angiography is considered the most reliable method for diagnosing pulmonary embolism because it directly visualizes the pulmonary arteries and can identify the presence of blood clots. This invasive procedure involves the injection of a contrast dye into the pulmonary arteries, allowing for real-time imaging through fluoroscopy. The high level of sensitivity and specificity offered by pulmonary angiography makes it the gold standard in diagnosing this condition, despite the risks associated with the procedure.

While a CT scan, particularly a CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA), is a highly effective and non-invasive method that is often used for initial evaluation, pulmonary angiography remains definitive when further confirmation is needed or in cases where the CT findings are inconclusive. Doppler ultrasound is principally utilized for identifying deep vein thrombosis, which can be a source of pulmonary embolism but does not directly visualize the pulmonary arteries. X-rays have limited use in diagnosing pulmonary embolism as they can often appear normal or show nonspecific findings in affected patients. Therefore, pulmonary angiography stands out as the most reliable method for confirming the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.