.webp&w=384&q=75){kind=logo}
Loading, please wait...
Loading, please wait...
The use of validated pretest-probability tools such as the Wells score and Pulmonary Embolism Rule-out Criteria can improve diagnostic efficiency in suspected pulmonary embolism. The key concept is that testing should be guided by clinical probability rather than applied identically to every patient. In lower-risk patients, appropriate use of PERC or D-dimer testing can avoid unnecessary CT pulmonary angiography, while higher-probability patients may require definitive imaging without delay. For general physicians, this structured approach reduces both missed disease and overtesting. Age-adjusted D-dimer thresholds can further improve specificity in older adults when pulmonary embolism is not highly likely. The practical message is that a good diagnostic pathway starts before ordering the scan. History, vital signs, risk factors and examination findings should establish pretest probability, followed by the least invasive test capable of safely moving the diagnosis forward. This is a core internal-medicine skill with immediate implications for emergency and outpatient practice.
Read summarized clinical updates, watch expert medical content, and earn CME certifications right from your smartphone.
Open your smartphone camera to scan and install.
The use of validated pretest-probability tools such as the Wells score and Pulmonary Embolism Rule-out Criteria can improve diagnostic efficiency in suspected pulmonary embolism. The key concept is that testing should be guided by clinical probability rather than applied identically to every patient. In lower-risk patients, appropriate use of PERC or D-dimer testing can avoid unnecessary CT pulmonary angiography, while higher-probability patients may require definitive imaging without delay. For general physicians, this structured approach reduces both missed disease and overtesting. Age-adjusted D-dimer thresholds can further improve specificity in older adults when pulmonary embolism is not highly likely. The practical message is that a good diagnostic pathway starts before ordering the scan. History, vital signs, risk factors and examination findings should establish pretest probability, followed by the least invasive test capable of safely moving the diagnosis forward. This is a core internal-medicine skill with immediate implications for emergency and outpatient practice.
Today
The phase 3 ACACIA-HCM trial reveals that aficamten improves cardiac structure, diastolic relaxation, functional capacity, and symptom burden in symptomatic nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, marking a major milestone in targeted myosin inhibition.
6 days back
A clinical study shows that automated breast ultrasound paired with artificial intelligence accurately classifies BIRADS 3-4 lesions, reaching 95% sensitivity and 79% specificity. This diagnostic advance promises to reduce unnecessary core needle biopsies and refine clinical workflows in breast imaging.
3 weeks back
Researchers have engineered freestanding hierarchical-porous BCZT thin films that resist cracking and enhance ultrasonic energy harvesting in soft tissue. Achieving high piezoelectric output and acoustic matching, this lead-free material offers transformative potential for implantable bioelectronics.
6 days back
A novel pathology-adaptive surface engineering strategy uses functionalized plasma polymer coatings to selectively modulate AGE adsorption, reducing oxidative stress and restoring bone formation in diabetic and aging microenvironments.
3 weeks back
A breakthrough study identifies the Klotho/PKCα/CUX1/SPARC/TGFβ-RII axis as a critical driver of podocyte mitochondrial injury and ferroptosis in diabetic kidney disease, unveiling promising molecular targets to halt renal disease progression.
6 days back
