Clinical Examination

The clinical examination should specifically focus upon looking for signs indicative of a deep venous thrombosis and conditions that may masquerade as a PE such as pneumonia (e.g. pyrexia, bronchial breathing). Classically, in patients with a PE chest examination reveals no abnormality.

In addition, patients should be examined for possible underlying causes of venous thromboembolism such as cancer (e.g. organomegaly, lymphadenopathy).