Pulmonary Embolus Imaging Assessment With Emphasis on Echocardiography.

Background: This case discusses the importance of echocardiography, or transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), in detecting and diagnosing pulmonary embolisms (PE). The patient described in this case study, who underwent an echocardiography examination a few years before, had little reason to suspect the result of his PE would be a metastatic tumor showering masses of cancerous material and blood clots to his lungs.

Discussion: Although computed tomography angiography is the gold standard for diagnosing PE, echocardiography is the preferred modality for identifying heart masses or tumors and provides vital PE information.