Abstract:

Objective:To explore the diagnostic method of pulmonary embolism and analyze the reason of misdiagnosis, in order to
improve the awareness of pulmonary embolism and reduce misdiagnosis and mistreatment. Methods: Clinical manifestation, laboratory
data and the status about misdiagnosis of pulmonary embolism were collected to analyze the reason of 30 cases of misdiagnosis in the
People's Hospital of Baoshan. Results: Clinicians, especially the surgeons' insufficient understanding of the specific clinical
symptoms of pulmonary embolism led to the high rate of misdiagnosis. There were 11 cases misdiagnosed as pneumonia; 4 cases of
pulmonary tuberculosis; 3 cases of pleural effusion, 2 cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; 2 cases of pulmonary heart
disease; 5 cases of acute coronary syndrome; 2 cases of acute left heart failure; 1 cases of lumbar disc herniation. Conclusion: The
early clinical diagnosis of pulmonary embolism was difficult, and clinicians should improve their understanding of this disease.
Pulmonary embolism should be considered when patients showed symptom with chest pain, rough breathing, hemoptysis, dyspnea and
new pulmonary infiltrates but not improved after treatment. Meanwhile, CT pulmonary artery angiography should be improved to reduce
misdiagnosis and mistreatment.

Key words: pulmonary embolism, CT pulmonary angiography, misdiagnosis