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Query: UMLS:C0034065 (pulmonary embolism)
 14,979 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is recognized as a leading cause of maternal mortality in the developed world; however, it is a very difficult diagnosis to make on clinical grounds, and in most cases imaging is required. Pregnancy is a recognized risk factor for venous thromboembolism, and symptoms of normal pregnancy including shortness of breath, tachycardia and leg swelling are included in clinical tools for risk stratification for PE in the non-pregnant population. This results in a very low threshold for imaging, despite concerns regarding the risk of exposure to ionizing radiation both for the fetus and the maternal breast. We reviewed the results of all ventilation/perfusion scans and computed tomography pulmonary angiograms performed in pregnant women at a single institution to identify how many of these tests were positive for PE, and which clinical features may identify a low-risk group. A total of 386 scans were performed to investigate 375 episodes of suspected PE, representing 1.3-1.5% of pregnant women. Fifteen patients were diagnosed with PE, giving an incidence of one in 2000 maternities. The only statistically significant factors associated with PE were smoking or the presence of multiple risk factors. Clinical features of tachycardia and leg swelling did not provide significant diagnostic value; however, the absence of pleuritic chest pain had a negative predictive value of 97.8%. Arterial blood gas and D-dimer were statistically different between those with and without PE but not to a clinically useful degree. Currently available clinical and laboratory tools are not adequate to exclude a diagnosis of PE in a pregnant patient, thus imaging is justified to exclude PE. Further longitudinal studies to identify a low-risk group who do not require imaging is vital.
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PMID:Use of imaging for investigation of suspected pulmonary embolism during pregnancy and the postpartum period. 2757 91

Pulmonary infarction occurs in nearly one-third of the patients with acute pulmonary embolism. Infarcts are still often mistaken for pneumonia or lung cancer because of the deeply rooted belief that they ought to be triangular in shape. In reality, the apical portion of an embolized region is spared from infarction thanks to sufficient collateral blood flow. Infarcts are always arranged peripherally along the surface of the visceral pleura (costal, diaphragmatic, mediastinal, or interlobar). Their free margin is sharp and convex toward the hilum, casting a semicircular or cushion-like density on chest radiography or computed tomography (CT). Focal areas of hyperlucency within the infarction are often seen on CT. Clinical presentation is nonspecific. Pleuritic chest pain, either isolated or in combination with abrupt dyspnea, is the most frequent presenting symptom, whereas hemoptysis is much rarer. Recent data indicate that younger age, increasing body height, and active cigarette smoking are independent predictors of infarction in the setting of acute pulmonary embolism. Correct recognition of pulmonary infarction is fundamental because pleural-based consolidations suggestive of infarction may be the first manifestation of pulmonary embolism.
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PMID:Pulmonary Infarction: An Often Unrecognized Clinical Entity. 2774 56

Pulmonary embolism is a sudden occlusion of blood flow to the lungs by a blood clot that has usually arisen from a deep vein thrombosis. Clots can break off and then travel through the heart to the lungs. Large clots lodge in the main pulmonary artery, causing a potentially fatal blockage. Smaller clots travel to the lung periphery where they may cause inflammation that results in pleuritic chest pain.
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PMID:The signs, symptoms and prevention of pulmonary embolism. 2774 92

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) has a wide range of clinical presentations. Deep venous thrombosis may occur in upper or lower extremities or in visceral veins. Extremity deep venous thrombosis usually manifests with unilateral painful swelling in the limb, while visceral deep venous thrombosis manifestations vary on the basis of the involved organ. Pulmonary embolism classically manifests with sudden pleuritic chest pain and unexplained dyspnea. Superficial thrombophlebitis usually presents with acute inflammation around a palpable thrombosed superficial vein. Risk factors of VTE are either inherited or acquired. The inherited causes of VTE tend to be familial and more common in younger patients. The common acquired risk factors of VTE include previous history of venous thrombosis, immobilization, recent surgery or trauma, malignancy, and pregnancy. Identifying high-risk patients for VTE based on these risk factors is the cornerstone to provide the prophylactic treatment to prevent thrombotic events.
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PMID:Clinical Presentation and Risk Factors of Venous Thromboembolic Disease. 2855 91

Pericardial effusions arise as an extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Pericardial effusions are often asymptomatic, particularly in the early phase, but patients are at risk of cardiac tamponade as the effusion progresses. We discuss the case of a 40-year-old male ultramarathon runner with RA who presented with mild pleuritic chest pain and exertional dyspnoea after a recent long-haul flight. Despite a relative tachycardia, his observations were otherwise unremarkable. His blood tests revealed a C-reactive protein (CRP) of 86 mg/L and an anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) titre of 360 units/mL. He was initially diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism; however, a large pericardial effusion was found incidentally on CT pulmonary angiogram with over 1500 mL subsequently drained. The patient's symptoms resolved and CRP normalised 2 weeks later. This unique case illustrates that physically fit patients may physiologically compensate for large pericardial effusions and that arthritic symptoms do not correlate with the severity of extra-articular features in RA.
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PMID:A large chronic pericardial effusion in an ultramarathon runner with anti-CCP positive rheumatoid arthritis. 2861 Nov 62

Pleuritic chest pain is characterized by sudden and intense sharp, stabbing, or burning pain in the chest when inhaling and exhaling. Pulmonary embolism is the most common serious cause, found in 5% to 21% of patients who present to an emergency department with pleuritic chest pain. A validated clinical decision rule for pulmonary embolism should be employed to guide the use of additional tests such as d-dimer assays, ventilation-perfusion scans, or computed tomography angiography. Myocardial infarction, pericarditis, aortic dissection, pneumonia, and pneumothorax are other serious causes that should be ruled out using history and physical examination, electrocardiography, troponin assays, and chest radiography before another diagnosis is made. Validated clinical decision rules are available to help exclude coronary artery disease. Viruses are common causative agents of pleuritic chest pain. Coxsackieviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza, parainfluenza, mumps, adenovirus, cytomegalovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus are likely pathogens. Treatment is guided by the underlying diagnosis. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are appropriate for pain management in those with virally triggered or nonspecific pleuritic chest pain. In patients with persistent symptoms, persons who smoke, and those older than 50 years with pneumonia, it is important to document radiographic resolution with repeat chest radiography six weeks after initial treatment.
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PMID:Pleuritic Chest Pain: Sorting Through the Differential Diagnosis. 2892 55

An 18-year-old male presented to our hospital with complaints of episodic abdominal pain, dry cough and right pleuritic chest pain. He was diagnosed as a case of right tuberculous pleural effusion on the basis of the pleural fluid Genexpert report of Mycobacterium tuberculosis detected sensitive to rifampicin and was started on antituberculous therapy. Forty-five days later, he presented with acute onset breathlessness, swelling of the right leg, streaky haemoptysis and a fresh left-sided pleural effusion. Evaluation revealed venous thromboembolism (right lower lobar segment pulmonary embolism with right leg deep vein thrombosis). Workup for malignancy was negative. However, he had vitamin B12 deficiency with increased homocysteine levels and heterozygous mutation of the MTHFR gene at A1298C. He was treated with optimal anticoagulation, vitamin B12 supplementation and antitubercular treatment. This is a rare combination of events perhaps related to the MTHFR gene mutation.
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PMID:Venous thromboembolism due to hyperhomocysteinaemia and tuberculosis. 2893 98

We present a 46-year-old female with pleuritic chest pain on a background of pulmonary embolism diagnosed on a single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) imaging 3 years earlier. A SPECT V/Q scan detected a mismatched perfusion defect in the posterior basal segment of the right lower lobe, essentially unchanged from a defect identified 3 years earlier. Given the atypical finding, the patient went on to have a computed tomographic pulmonary angiogram. It revealed an intralobar bronchopulmonary sequestration as the cause of the right lower lobe mismatched perfusion defect. With growing awareness of radiation safety, the number of V/Q imaging studies being undertaken to investigate suspected pulmonary emboli, especially in young female patients, has increased. This case report serves as a timely reminder of the potential pitfalls associated with V/Q scan image interpretation.
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PMID:Bronchopulmonary Sequestration as a Cause of Mismatched Perfusion Defect on Single-photon Emission Computed Tomography Ventilation-perfusion Scan. 2939 69

The purpose of this case presentation is to discuss right upper quadrant pain as an atypical presenting symptom in pulmonary infarction and review the typical computed tomography (CT) imaging features of pulmonary infarction to improve diagnostic accuracy. Pulmonary infarction results from occlusion of distal arterial vasculature within the lung parenchyma leading to ischemia, hemorrhage, and ultimately necrosis. Patients with lung infarction typically present with pleuritic chest pain and may have associated signs or symptoms of pulmonary thromboembolism or deep vein thrombosis. In this case study, a 34-yr-old female devoid of any symptoms indicative of either pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis presented with right upper quadrant pain 1 mo status post open reduction internal fixation for a left ankle fracture. Multiple clinic visits spanning approximately 7 d were significant for a right lower lobe opacity seen on CT of the abdomen which was presumed to represent community acquired pneumonia as a source for the patient's RUQ pain. The patient presented to the emergency department 1 wk later (6 wk following her initial surgery) complaining of left lower extremity swelling and was subsequently diagnosed with a left lower extremity DVT via ultrasound. CT of the pulmonary arteries was negative for PE but identified a right lower lobe opacity which in retrospect was consistent with pulmonary infarction.
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PMID:Pulmonary Infarction: Right Upper Quadrant Pain as a Presenting Symptom With Review of Typical Computed Tomography Imaging Features. 2988 60

A 45-year-old lady presented acutely with pleuritic chest pain, haemoptysis, and dyspnoea. Her background was significant for a 1.4 cm renal angiomyolipoma, and she was an ex-smoker without any relevant family history. A computed tomography (CT) pulmonary angiogram was negative for a pulmonary embolism but demonstrated diffuse cystic change throughout both lungs. A bronchoscopy confirmed a normal endobronchial tree, and pulmonary function tests demonstrated moderate airways obstruction, with reversibility and a normal diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO). A video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lung biopsy showed non-caseating granulomas, and serum angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) was elevated consistent with a diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis. Further sectioning indicated focal areas that stained positive for Human Melanoma Black 45 (HMB-45), confirming lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). A diagnosis of cystic lung disease secondary to coexistent sarcoidosis and LAM was made.
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PMID:Coexistent sarcoidosis and lymphangioleiomyomatosis in a patient with cystic lung disease. 3051 68


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