Multidetector CT scan in the evaluation of chest pain of nontraumatic musculoskeletal origin.
Acute nontraumatic chest pain is a common presenting symptom to the emergency department. Often, it is evaluated by MDCT with PE, aortic dissection, or coronary artery protocols. The parameters used for these MDCT protocols are very similar to those used in protocols for dedicated imaging of the musculoskeletal system. Thus, these studies are not only effective in evaluating for these traditional vascular causes of chest pain, but also in evaluating musculoskeletal causes of chest pain, including those of infectious, rheumatologic, and systemic causes. In essence, every MDCT of the chest is also a musculoskeletal examination of the chest and anyone interpreting these images must be familiar with the MDCT-imaging appearance of common musculoskeletal causes of acute nontraumatic chest pain.
Hillen
Travis J
TJ
Division of Diagnostic Radiology, Section of Musculoskeletal Radiology, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8131, St Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Wessell
Daniel E
DE