Non-traumatic thoracic emergencies: acute chest pain: diagnostic strategies.
Acute chest pain may represent the initial and/or accompanying symptom in a variety of disease processes that may occur in the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, or musculoskeletal system. Although clinical history, risk factors, and physical examination are important factors in establishing the etiology of symptoms in patients presenting with acute chest pain, imaging modalities are frequently utilized. Noncardiac causes of acute chest pain are reviewed in this paper with special reference to the most recently published literature and emphasis on acute aortic diseases. Imaging modalities with indication of appropriateness, optimal technique and practical keys for interpretation are discussed.
Department of Radiology, University of Chieti, Ospedale SS. Annunziata, Via dei Vestini, 66013 Chieti Scalo, Italy. l.bonomo@radiol.unich.it
Lorenzo
L
Bonomo
Francesca
F
Di Fabio
Anna
A
Rita Larici
Biagio
B
Merlino
Maria
M
Luigia Storto
D000208:Acute Disease; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D004452:Echocardiography; D004630:Emergencies; D006406:Hematoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods