Atypical presentation of pulmonary embolism
A case report
Keywords:
pulmonary embolism, shoulder pain, musculoskeletalAbstract
In spite of high incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE), its diagnosis can be challenging due to vagaries of symptoms. Conversely, right shoulder pain is a relatively easy clinical presentation which is mostly musculoskeletal in nature. But right shoulder pain only in a case of PE, has proven to be a difficult correlation to make. We here describe a patient with no prior history of DVT or PE, no history of prolonged bed rest or recent surgery but admitted to emergency department with right shoulder pain for two days. CTPA revealed pulmonary thromboembolism. Her symptoms improved with subcutaneous Clexane followed by Rivaroxaban oral therapy.
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