Routine echocardiography in patients with suspected<unk>  embolism (PE) is not required.  In fact, the majority of patients with PE have a normal echocardiography. However if elevations in the cardiac troponins or brain natriuretic peptide are present, then acute right ventricular (RV) dysfunction may be present and echocardiography is warranted. Echocardiography is also valuable for the evaluation of hemodynamically unstable patients with acute dyspnea, right heart failure, or syncope who are suspected to have PE.  The presence of right ventricular dysfunction is a predictor of early death among patients with PE.  When evidence of RV dysfunction is present, PE is risk stratified into submassive PE or massive PE depending on the absence or presence of hypotension respectively.
Pulmonary embolism echocardiography
Pulmonary embolism compression ultrasonography
Pulmonary embolism MRI
Right heart failure echocardiography
Pulmonary embolism physical examination
Chest pain echocardiography
Pericardial effusion physical examination
Pulmonary embolism electrocardiogram