The current standard of care when a pulmonary embolus is suspected is a:

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A thoracic computed tomographic angiogram is currently considered the gold standard for diagnosing a pulmonary embolus. It is a non-invasive test that has high sensitivity and specificity for detecting the presence of a clot in the pulmonary vasculature. Chest radiographs are not sensitive enough to detect a pulmonary embolus and are usually ordered to rule out other causes of respiratory symptoms. Nuclear medicine ventilation and perfusion scans are an alternative diagnostic test, but they have lower sensitivity and specificity than CT angiography. Thoracic MRI may also be used, but it is not as widely available and is more time-consuming than CT angiography.

The Current Standard of Care When a Pulmonary Embolus Is