One of the most important points in diagnosis is to obtain a good patient history and consider the possibility of embolism. Symptoms of embolism, such as shortness of breath, cough, bloody sputum, and pleuritic chest pain, can also occur in many other chest diseases. If the patient's history, sudden onset, and identified risk factors suggest pulmonary embolism, the first step is a simple blood test.

In pulmonary embolism, D-dimer, ALT, and AST parameters are elevated. However, this is not sufficient for a definitive diagnosis. The definitive diagnosis of pulmonary embolism is made using a computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) with contrast medium. This film identifies which vessel in the lung contains the clot. To determine the origin of the clot, a Doppler ultrasound of the legs is performed. After a definitive diagnosis of pulmonary embolism is made, a treatment plan is developed based on the patient's condition.