An embolus (that is, an abnormal particle circulating in the blood) located in the pulmonary artery and thereby blocking blood circulation to the lung. Usually the embolus is a blood clot that has developed in an extremity (for instance, a deep venous thrombosis), detached, and traveled through the circulation before becoming trapped in the pulmonary artery.
Iizumi T, Suriki H, Sato F, Harano T. Intern Med. 1995;34(5):376-9.
A 67-year-old woman with pulmonary embolism was suspected to have beta-thalassemia based on microcytosis, hemolysis and a negative red cell stability test.
