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Glite Dictionary
pulmonary embolism

pulmonary embolism

6 6.1
A blood clot that blocks a vessel in the lungs and stops blood flow
  • noun
  • /ˈpʌlməˌnɛri ˌɛmbəˈlɪzəm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : embolia pulmonar
  • The doctor confirmed that her sudden breathing difficulties were caused by a pulmonary embolism.
  • acute pulmonary embolism
  • symptomatic pulmonary embolism
  • diagnosis of pulmonary embolism

But hey, I had a pulmonary embolism, which means a piece of blood clot broke off and went to my lungs.

Examples

  • Several months later, the patient was admitted with a pulmonary embolism, and a V/Q scan showed no perfusion of the right lung.

    Academic text (1992)

  • Haemoptysis may be caused by cancer, tuberculosis, and pulmonary embolism, among other conditions.

    Academic text (2012)

  • There was no evidence of pulmonary embolism.

    Academic text (2007)

  • Today I have my medical report confirming that I am negative for pulmonary embolism.

    Blog text (12)

  • Imaging plays a key role in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.

    Academic text (2007)

  • But hey, I had a pulmonary embolism, which means a piece of blood clot broke off and went to my lungs.

    iJustine

  • An inferior caval filter can also be used in preventing pulmonary embolism.

    Academic text (2006)

  • Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are important complications to recognize and help prevent.

    Academic text (2007)

  • Indications for use include deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), AF, and following the fitting of a mechanical heart valve.

    Academic text (2012)

  • After being diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism, he was immediately started on blood thinners.

Synonyms

embolism
vspulmonary embolism
  • Specialized
17 8.1

A sudden blockage in a blood vessel by a clot or air bubble carried in the blood

refers specifically to blockages in lung arteries usually from a blood clot elsewhere
thromboembolism
vspulmonary embolism
  • Specialized
9.6

A blood vessel blocked by a piece of a blood clot that moved from another part of the body

is limited to blockages in the lung arteries caused by traveling blood clots

Surface Forms

pulmonary embolism singular
pulmonary embolisms plural

Morphology

pulmonary + embolism

The compound combines 'pulmonary' (relating to the lungs) and 'embolism' (an occlusion of a blood vessel by an embolus), so the meaning—an embolic blockage in the lung/pulmonary circulation—is directly inferable from the parts. This is a straightforward medical compound found cross-linguistically, so a learner who knows both constituents can reliably derive the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Pulmonary embolism comes from two parts: pulmonary meaning 'lung' and embolism meaning a 'plug' or 'stopper'. The image is a blood clot that travels from another part of the body and acts like a plug in a blood vessel of the lung, so the term means a dangerous blockage in the lungs that can cause shortness of breath.