A cute pulmonary embolism (PE) is the third most common cardiovascular condition, after coronary artery disease and stroke (1). Due to lack of specific sets of symptoms that accurately predict or exclude the diagnosis of acute PE, the diagnosis strongly relies on noninvasive imaging techniques. Diagnostic strategies for evaluating PE have undergone important changes over the past decades (2). Due to rapid technical advances in speed and spatial resolution, the utility of computed tomography (CT) angiography has been recognized in vascular imaging. Particularly, after the development of multidetector row CT in 1998 (3), CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) has become the imaging method of choice in the diagnosis of acute PE (4). CTPA has advantages over conventional invasive X-ray pulmonary angiography and nuclear ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) imaging. CT is a widely available, fast and noninvasive technique, has the capability to directly visualize emboli, and may provide alternative diagnoses (4).Despite adequate diagnosis and anticoagulant therapy, death rate after a diagnosis of acute PE is still 8%-15% (5, 6). The prognosis of acute PE mainly depends on residual pulmonary circulation and the severity of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction (7). Recent studies have shown that CT permits the assessment of acute right-sided heart failure. Furthermore, CT can predict adverse clinical outcome by using the RV/left ventricular (LV) diameter ratio (8, 9) or RV ejection fraction in patients with PE (10).The aim of this review is to discuss the developments of CT in PE diagnosis, and to analyze the added value of CT in estimating PE severity and prognosis. Furthermore, CT findings of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary arterial hypertension (CTEPH) as a complication of acute PE will be discussed. CT developments in PE diagnosisHistorically, pulmonary angiography and nuclear planar V/Q-imaging were the main imaging methods used for diagnosing PE. Both methods have recognized limitations. Pulmonary angiography has previously been regarded as reference standard, but the method CHEST IMAGING REVIEW ABSTRACT Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a potentially life threatening condition requiring adequate diagnosis and treatment. Computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is excellent for including and excluding PE, therefore CT is the first-choice diagnostic imaging technique in patients suspected of having acute PE. Due to its wide availability and low invasiveness, CTPA tends to be overused. Correct implementation of clinical decision rules in diagnostic workup for PE improves adequate use of CT. Also, CT adds prognostic value by evaluating right ventricular (RV) function. CT-assessed RV dysfunction and to lesser extent central emboli location predicts PE-related mortality in normotensive and hypotensive patients, while PE embolic obstruction index has limited prognostic value. Simple RV/left ventricular (LV) diameter ratio measures >1.0 already predict risk for adverse outcome, whereas ratios <1.0 can safely exclude adverse outcome. Con...

RV volumes can be accurately assessed using MDCT.