title: ST segment elevations: always a marker of acute myocardial infarction?
abstract: Chest pain is one of the chief presenting complaints among patients attending Emergency department. The diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction may be a challenge. Various tools such as anamnesis, blood sample (with evaluation of markers of myocardial necrosis), ultrasound techniques and coronary computed tomography could be useful. However, the interpretation of electrocardiograms of these patients may be a real concern. The earliest manifestations of myocardial ischemia typically interest T waves and ST segment. Despite the high sensitivity, ST segment deviation has however poor specificity since it may be observed in many other cardiac and non-cardiac conditions. Therefore, when ST-T abnormalities are detected the physicians should take into account many other parameters (such as risk factors, symptoms and anamnesis) and all the other differential diagnoses. The aim of our review is to overview of the main conditions that may mimic a ST segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI).
authors.affiliation: O.U. of Cardiology, A.O.U. Policlinico "P. Giaccone", University of Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coppola
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carità
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Corrado
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borrelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rotolo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guglielmo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nugara
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ajello
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santomauro
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Novo
mesh_terms: D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D053840:Brugada Syndrome; D000075224:Cardiac Conduction System Disease; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Chest pain; Differential diagnosis; ECG; Myocardial infarction; ST segment