Acronym

PE

Pulmonary embolism

A blockage of the pulmonary arteries, usually by thrombus.

What it means

A blockage of the pulmonary arteries, usually by thrombus.

Clinical context

PE is commonly used in Emergency medicine, Respiratory medicine. The exact meaning can depend on specialty, region and local documentation practice.

Learning note

Use the full term when clarity matters, especially in formal assignments, prescriptions, handover and patient-facing communication.