A 54-year-old with suspected PE has moderate pretest probability. D-dimer is positive. Next step?...

Question

A 54-year-old with suspected PE has moderate pretest probability. D-dimer is positive. Next step?

Accepted Answer

CT pulmonary angiography

Answer

No imaging; D-dimer is nonspecific

Answer

Lower-extremity x-ray

Answer

Start thrombolysis empirically

Answer

V/Q scan only if CTPA unavailable

us-usmle-step-2 MCQ (SBA): PE Diagnostic Pathway