Pulmonary Cement Embolism

September 29, 2021

The article “Unusual Etiology of Chest Pain” explores a case study of a 36-year-old woman ultimately diagnosed with pulmonary cement embolism. Check your understanding of this rare presentation with the following quiz.

Pulmonary cement embolism is a known potential complication of kyphoplasty used to treat vertebral compression fractures. It can occur when polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) spills into venous plexuses or leaks in a retrograde fashion into the arterial system.

Which of the following is false regarding its likely presentation and treatment?

A) Some patients with pulmonary cement embolism have typical symptoms of pulmonary embolism (eg, dyspnea, chest pain, hypoxia, arrhythmia), but others remain asymptomatic.

B) Symptoms from pulmonary cement embolism usually occur during the kyphoplasty procedure itself or within a few hours after the procedure.

C) We lack clear consensus on the treatment of pulmonary cement embolism. However, under one proposed algorithm mentioned in the article, patients who are asymptomatic with a central clot or symptomatic with a peripheral clot should probably receive anticoagulation.

D) Under the algorithm mentioned in the article, patients who are asymptomatic with a peripheral clot should be monitored but do not require anticoagulation.

E) Under the algorithm mentioned in the article, patients who are symptomatic with a central clot should be considered for surgical removal.