The underlying disorder of pulmonary embolism (PE) is venous thromboembolism (VTE), comprising deep vein thrombosis, thrombus in transit, acute pulmonary embolism and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). PE may recur and cause serious long-term complications, such as post-thrombotic syndrome and CTEPH. This short overview summarizes current concepts on pathophysiology, epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of this common disorder.