It has been reported that some patients have been misdiagnosed with Peripheral Artery Disease, when in fact the correct diagnosis in their specific case was Venous Thromboembolism.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is when a blood clot forms in a deep vein usually in the leg and can present in patients as simply as a leg cramp, or muscle strain, or without any symptoms that something is amiss at all. This vague presentation can so easily lead to misdiagnosis. When misdiagnosed and not treated, DVT can lead to a pulmonary embolism. The clot in the deep leg veins can travel up to the lungs, cutting off their blood supply, which can be fatal in 30% of cases. When treated properly, the risk of death drops down to 2-8%.