Pulmonary Embolism USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 28-year-old woman at 30 weeks of gestation presents with sudden dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain. Vital signs show HR 108 bpm, BP 118/76 mmHg, RR 22/min, SpO2 93% on room air, and temperature 37.2°C. She denies leg swelling. Laboratory studies reveal elevated D-dimer at 2.8 μg/mL. Chest X-ray shows no infiltrates or pleural effusion. She takes prenatal vitamins only. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial imaging study?
Answer choices
- AChest X-ray only
- BCompression ultrasonography of bilateral lower extremitiesCorrect answer
- CMRI pulmonary angiography
- DCT pulmonary angiography
- EVentilation-perfusion (V/Q) lung scan
- FDoppler echocardiography
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