Clinical presentation of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism

Abstract

Background: In the past, the clinical diagnosis of venous thromboembolism (VTE), which comprises deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) had been very challenging, because clinical presentation is non-specific and inaccurate.

Objective: To review and assess clinical signs, symptoms and risk factors of DVT and PE and identify most common differential diagnoses.

Results: Important components for the clinical diagnosis of VTE include risk factors such as immobilization, presence of cancer, confinement to bed, previous major surgery, prior VTE and - specific for DVT - whole limb enlargement, one-sided calf enlargement and dilatation of superficial veins. Additional items specific for PE include tachycardia, dyspnea chest pain and hemoptysis. Many of these clinical characteristics are included into clinical prediction rules, such as the Wells pre-test probability score for DVT or PE or the Geneva score for PE. These scores are used to determine the pre-test probability for VTE and they constitute the basis for a diagnostic algorithm. Various clinical prediction rules for DVT or PE show comparable accuracy.

Conclusion: Even though the clinical presentation of DVT and PE varies substantially in individual patients and settings and may be misleading, diagnostic prediction rules based on clinical presentation and risk factors are very useful to assess pre-test probability, which is a very important concept for the diagnosis of DVT and PE.