Ingenuity core 64

Owing to retrospective analysis, this study used two CT scanners, Ingenuity core 64 (Philips Healthcare) and GE Discovery CT750 HD (GE Healthcare). All the patients undergone chest or abdominal plain and biphasic CECT scan, including arterial (approximately 30 s) and venous phase (approximately 60 s) after 80–100 ml of non-ionic contrast agent iodopamil (350 mg I/ml) was infused with a high-pressure syringe at a rate of 3.5 ml/s. The scanning parameters and image reconstruction are listed in Supplementary Table S1.

All CTPA examinations were performed in a 64-slice CT scanner (Philips Ingenuity Core 64). Following our standard CTPA protocol, all patients received 80–100 mL of iodinated intravenous contrast agent (350 mg/mL). Two senior chest radiologists (K.T., P.F.) evaluated separately all CTPA images. The presence and location (unilateral/bilateral, central/peripheral) of any intraluminal filling defect(s) within the pulmonary arterial tree down to a subsegmental level was recorded, as central PE was defined as the presence of embolus within the main trunk, right/left main, and/or lobar pulmonary arteries. Peripheral PE was defined as the presence of embolus within segmental and subsegmental arteries. Furthermore, parenchymal, and pleural CTPA findings in patients with or without PE were recorded.

Analyses of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁), FEV₁/FVC and total lung capacity (TLC) were performed by electronic spirometer according to the current guidelines at the Department of Pulmonology as previously described [30 (link)]. Lung diffusion capacity was measured using the single-breath CO method (D_LCO), and the transfer coefficient of the lung for CO (K_LCO) was also calculated (PDD: 301/s, Piston, Budapest, Hungary). Exercise capacity was determined using the 6MWT: 6-min walk distance (6MWD) in meters, baseline and post-exercise oxygen saturation (SpO₂), heart rate and the Borg scale referring to dyspnea were assessed. ABG was measured from arterialized capillary blood (Cobas b 221, Roche, Mannheim, Germany).
HRCT scan was performed in all patients: inspiration and expiration positions (Ingenuity Core 64 and Brilliance 16 CT scanners, Philips, Amsterdam, The Netherlands), the pattern of the ILD was determined by radiology experts.