Question

Can a pulmonary embolism be detected on a chest X-ray? If not, how are they diagnosed?

Answer 1

Pulmonary embolism is the condition during which one of the Pulmonary arteries gets blocked in the lungs and is caused by blood clots that travel to the lungs from the deep veins in the legs or other parts of the body.

Complete answer:
A pulmonary embolism cannot be detected on a chest x-ray as it contains blood clots that are not diagnosed through an x-ray. Pulmonary embolism is difficult to diagnose in severe cases during a long or a heart condition such as high blood pressure or emphysema. A blood test performed by the doctor for the clot-dissolving substance D dimer which will suggest an increased likelihood of blood clots and other factors which cause high D-dimer level. Blood clots lower the level of oxygen in the blood which is detected by a blood test which measures the amount of Oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood and inherited clotting disorders are also determined by the blood test.
Other tests are performed by the doctors which include ultrasound that involves a test using sound waves to scan the veins for checking the deep vein blood clots. The reflective back waves to the transducer which is moved over the skin create a moving image in the computer. CT pulmonary angiography is performed to diagnose pulmonary embolism which creates a 3D image that detects abnormality through the arteries in the lungs.

Note:
Blood clot formation in a blood vessel is the most common type of pulmonary embolism which is the deep vein thrombosis under which the blood clots can break the blood vessel and enter the heart travelling through the lungs.