The search for an adequate diagnostic strategy for pulmonary embolism (PE) still causes controversy. The conventional diagnosis is made on the basis of clinical probability, pulmonary scanning, evidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), and pulmonary arteriography (PA) as the "gold standard."1 The D-dimer2-5 and helical computed tomography6 are new studies that can improve the diagnostic strategy and obviate unnecessary arteriographs.