Pulmonary embolism with fatigue as the main symptom: a case report

Pulmonary embolism (PE) presents with a wide range of symptoms, including shortness of breath, dyspnea, palpitations, chest tightness, chest pain, cough, restlessness, and syncope, which can often lead to misdiagnosis. We report a case of an 82-year-old patient who primarily complained of fatigue and was ultimately diagnosed with PE through computed tomography pulmonary angiography. After initiating anticoagulant therapy, the patient's fatigue significantly improved. This case highlights the importance of actively investigating the underlying cause of fatigue in elderly patients and raises awareness of pulmonary diseases as potential contributors. PE should be considered an important differential diagnosis in such cases.