Diagnosing and treating pulmonary thromboembolism

Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is a difficult disease to diagnose and yet a missed diagnosis can be fatal. Presenting signs and symptoms mimic numerous conditions such as myocardial infarction and pneumonia. Diagnostic testing therefore is often extensive in an attempt to differentiate the diagnosis. Although pulm onary angiography is the gold standard for definitive diagnosis, it is seldom e mployed. Initial diagnostic testing often includes noninvasive studies such as lung scanning, echocardiography, and venous ultrasound along with specific lab oratory data. Presenting condition as well as diagnostic results, suggest the severity of the disease process, and guide appropriate therapy.