Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a serious condition where a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in the lungs. To diagnose it, doctors often start with a patient’s history and symptoms, such as sudden shortness of breath or chest pain. They might perform imaging tests, like a CT scan of the chest, to visualize the lungs and identify clots. A D-dimer blood test can also help by indicating if there are abnormal levels suggesting clotting. A combination of these tools helps to confirm or rule out a PE, guiding effective treatment.