Diagnosis and evaluation of thromboembolic disorders

The most common types of thromboembolic disorders are lower extremity deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Since the effectiveness of anticoagulation therapy for deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism was established in 1960, knowledge of these disorders has increased rapidly. What has become clear is that the nonspecificity of symptoms and signs of these disorders has led to both overdiagnosis and undertreatment. This article presents a review of the natural history and clinical manifestations of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism and includes a discussion of their diagnostic evaluation.