Diagnosis of chest pain. Pluses and minuses of stress tests.
The differential diagnosis of chest pain often can be made by careful history taking. However, an adequate physical examination is also important and is considered mandatory by patients. If a definite diagnosis of nonanginal chest pain is made, no further studies are necessary. Electrocardiographic stress tests give important prognostic information in patients with definite angina and also give diagnostic information in patients with atypical angina. They are poor screening procedures for detecting persons at risk for sudden death. Radionuclide and echocardiographic stress tests are expensive and usually not necessary.
Southern California Permanente Medical Group, Woodland Hills.
L H
LH
Seager
D000465:Algorithms; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000075202:Contraindications; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence