Patient-Friendly Summary of the ACR Appropriateness Criteria: Suspected Pulmonary Embolism: 2022 Update.

Abstract

Pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs because of a sudden blockage of a lung artery. PE is the third most common cardiovascular disease and a leading cause of pregnancy-related death. Not all cases of PE are fatal. PE usually occurs with deep vein thrombosis, which is a blood clot in a deep vein, such as in the leg. PE can be hard to identify, as symptoms of chest pain and shortness of breath are common among cardiovascular diseases. Various clinical criteria can be used to assess an individual’s risk for PE.