title: [Value and role of clinical findings in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism].
abstract: The value and role of clinical findings in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism were analysed in the three steps of clinical reasoning: firstly, they lead the physician to suspect the diagnosis; however, no sign or association of clinical signs allow confirmation or infirmation of the diagnosis; they are simply a guide to diagnosis; secondly, they contribute to the exclusion of a number of differential diagnoses, with the help of simple complementary investigations such as blood gases, electrocardiograms and chest X-ray; finally, when grouped together and expressed in terms of probability, clinical data are essential for the interpretation of pulmonary scintigraphy and for assessing the indications of further investigations.
authors.affiliation: Département de médecine interne et pneumologie, CHRU Morvan, Brest.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leroyer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mottier
mesh_terms: D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011336:Probability; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012307:Risk Factors; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000209:etiology