Pulmonary thromboembolic disease--diagnosis, management and prevention.

Pulmonary embolism remains a serious condition which has generated controversy regarding both the optimal diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The development of newer modalities will eventually yield more efficient and safe approaches to both diagnosis and therapy; however, at the present time there is no definitive approach that can be recommended, and management must be individualized based on the patient's clinical status and the experience and expertise available at a particular institution.