title: Unusual forms of pulmonary embolism.
abstract: The first word of the title, unusual, captures the theme of this article. The entities discussed here: fat embolism, tumor embolism, venous air embolism, and amniotic fluid embolism, as well as other unusual embolic events are uncommon disorders that occur in specific circumscribed clinical settings. We have attempted to provide a cognitive jolt to remind the reader to consider these unusual events in appropriate differential diagnoses. No laboratory test, physical finding, or patient complaint will yield a timely diagnosis. Yet, these entities can be acutely life threatening; swift recognition is imperative. Timely and effective therapy rests on the clinical certainty that a test is not likely to establish. It is, perhaps, the greatest demand placed upon the agile clinical mind--to think of it!
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Park Nicollet Medical Center, Minneapolis.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Harmon
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D004619:Embolism, Amniotic Fluid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D004620:Embolism, Fat / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones