As there are many causes of leg pain, a doctor cannot diagnose deep vein thrombosis (DVT) by symptoms alone. The doctor will ask you some questions and will likely do a blood test (called D-dimer), and will then decide if further tests are required [1].
Before performing any tests, a doctor will usually establish the likelihood of a blood clot by asking questions, performing a physical examination, and completing a formalised risk score. If the probability of a DVT is low, a blood test, called a D-dimer test, is performed to rule out the diagnosis. If these tests show the probability of a DVT is high, additional tests, like an ultrasound will be performed to confirm the diagnosis [1].
Further imaging tests include taking X-rays of the veins with the use of contrast agents, as well as more sophisticated imaging such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) [1].
A doctor will likely make a diagnosis of PE using a similar approach to diagnosing a DVT. Step 1 involves asking questions, assessing clinical signs and then completing a clinical decision rule. Step 2 is performing a D-dimer test, and Step 3 involves imaging the lungs to see if a clot can be seen [2].
The following imaging tests are used to diagnose PE [2]:
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