Pulmonary embolism: an unsuspected killer

Pulmonary embolism is an unsuspected killer with an often nebulous presentation and a high mortality. Prompt initiation of anticoagulation therapy can decrease morbidity and mortality significantly in patients with pulmonary embolism, but inappropriate treatment can lead to bleeding complications in patients to whom the diagnosis is mistakenly assigned. Because the accurate diagnosis of pulmonary embolism is crucial to maximizing patient outcomes, this article focuses on atypical presentations, unique challenges in certain patient populations, and current diagnostic strategies for pulmonary embolism.