However, it requires the use of intravenous (IV) contrast. This test is the first-choice diagnostic imaging method because it’s sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of PE. Computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA).This test will check for other causes of chest pain. An ECG measures your heart’s electrical activity. The most common finding of a PE on a chest X-ray is “normal.” A PE can not be diagnosed with this test. This is a standard, noninvasive test that lets a doctor see your heart and lungs to look for other obvious causes of your symptoms. When you talk with a doctor about your symptoms, they’ll ask about your overall health and any preexisting conditions you may have.Ī doctor will typically perform one or more of the following tests to discover the cause of your symptoms: However, many people with PE have mild or nonspecific symptoms or are asymptomatic, including people with a large PE. The most common presenting symptom is shortness of breath followed by chest pain and cough. PE has a wide variety of characteristics, ranging from no symptoms to sudden death. There are additional risk factors that increase your odds of having the type of blood clot that can cause PE. Also, certain medical therapies for cancer can have side effects such as clotting in the blood. Treatments that involve surgery often lead to short-term bed rest or limited movement, which can make clotting more likely. Some health conditions cause blood to clot easily, which can lead to PE. This could occur if you’re sitting for a lengthy trip or if you’re lying in bed recovering from an illness. During long periods of inactivity, gravity causes blood to collect in the lowest areas of your body, which may lead to a blood clot. Injuries like bone fractures or muscle tears can cause damage to blood vessels, leading to clots. The blood clots that most often cause PEs begin in the legs or pelvis.īlood clots in the deep veins of the body can have several different causes, including: PEs are most often caused by deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition in which blood clots form in veins deep in the body. Blood clots can form for a variety of reasons.
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