ABSTRACT
Signs and symptoms of pulmonary emboli depend on the size and=or number of the emboli themselves as well as the patient’s preexisting cardiopulmonary status. In patients with preexisting lung disease, a relatively small embolus may cause acute right ventricular failure and systemic hypotension. There is no single symptom or sign or combination of clinical findings that is pathognomonic of a pulmonary embolism. However, since they are considerably more common in cancer patients, the clinician should maintain a high index of suspicion for their occurrence.
