A subsegmental pulmonary embolism is a blood clot located on a distal, or distant and less central, branch of the pulmonary arteries. Treatment can depend on symptoms and risk factors.
A subsegmental pulmonary embolism is a type of blood clot on the lung. Subsegmental describes the location of the blood clot.
The arteries in your lungs have a branching pattern. One main branch divides into smaller branches, or segments. These segments are divided further into subsegments.
Compared with pulmonary embolisms located in the segments or in more central locations, blood clots located in the subsegments may have fewer or less defined symptoms, risk factors, and diagnostic markers. Sometimes, doctors may recommend monitoring rather than treating them, but this can depend on individual factors.
Continue reading to learn more about subsegmental pulmonary embolisms, including what causes them, what symptoms they may cause, and how doctors manage them.
Like other types of pulmonary embolism, a subsegmental pulmonary embolism may result from a deeper blood clot, or deep vein thrombosis (DVT), that broke off and moved to the lung. Blood clots may also form in that area of the lung or other parts of the body.
- recent surgery
- high blood pressure
- obesity
- infections
- heart conditions
- kidney disease
- diabetes
- cancer and treatments for cancer
- blood clotting conditions
- spinal cord injury
- smoking cigarettes
Other factors that increase the risk can include:
- being older
- having a family history of the condition
- being premenopausal
Doctors use your blood clot risk factors to determine your Wells score for DVT.
A subsegmental pulmonary embolism may or may not cause symptoms.
In people who do have symptoms of a subsegmental pulmonary embolism, the most common symptom is chest pain. Other symptoms of a pulmonary embolism may include:
- shortness of breath
- elevated heart rate
- rapid breathing
- pain with deep breathing
- coughing
- feelings of dread
- lightheadedness, or feeling faint
- unexplained sweating
A subsegmental pulmonary embolism may be less likely than other forms of pulmonary embolism to cause symptoms. This is because it’s not located on a central part of the pulmonary arteries.
Sometimes, doctors discover subsegmental pulmonary embolisms when performing imaging for another health condition. They may also suspect a blood clot based on the results of routine testing and then run additional tests to confirm the diagnosis.
Doctors usually diagnose pulmonary embolisms, including subsegmental pulmonary embolisms, with computed tomography pulmonary angiography, which is a type of CT scan. This test takes images of the blood between the heart and the lungs.
A doctor may order this test if they suspect that you have a pulmonary embolism or DVT based on your symptoms or other test results.
They may also order additional tests to confirm the diagnosis and understand your heart and lung function. These tests may include:
- ventilation-perfusion scan, which measures air and blood flow into the lungs
- pulmonary angiography, which uses X-rays to see blood flow to the lungs
- echocardiography, which uses sound waves to show how blood flows into the heart
Not every subsegmental pulmonary embolism requires treatment, especially if you don’t have risk factors for blood clots and you only have one clot. Instead, a doctor may recommend monitoring the subsegmental pulmonary embolism until it goes away on its own.
However, they may recommend treatment if you:
- have any other risk factors for blood clots
- have more than one subsegmental pulmonary embolism
- have had DVT or a pulmonary embolism in the past
- have symptoms
- have other test results that suggest that the condition is more serious
Treatment for a subsegmental pulmonary embolism involves taking anticoagulants, or blood thinners.
Anticoagulants help break up blood clots. But because they reduce your blood’s ability to clot, they can potentially cause side effects like increased bleeding and bruising.
A subsegmental pulmonary embolism may go away with anticoagulation therapy or on its own.
A doctor can determine whether you need treatment based on your risk factors for blood clots. If you have risk factors for blood clots, they’ll likely recommend treatment to break up the clot. They may also recommend additional treatment to prevent new clots from forming.
They might also suggest certain lifestyle practices to reduce the risk of DVT, like wearing compression stockings or getting up to move around every couple of hours, if possible.
It’s also worth taking precautions when traveling to avoid blood clots.
A subsegmental pulmonary embolism is a type of blood clot in a noncentral part of the lung’s arteries.
It may cause symptoms like chest pain, or you may have no symptoms at all and only find out about the blood clot during testing for another condition.
Treatment can depend on whether you have other risk factors for blood clots, including a history of blood clots. Doctors typically treat subsegmental pulmonary embolisms with blood thinners.