Key result
Reproducible tenderness confirms chest wall syndrome in 12 patients with suspected severe cardiac pain.
Case Report (n=12)
Chest wall syndrome is an important differential diagnosis in patients with severe chest pain mimicking cardiac ischemia, identifiable by reproducible chest wall tenderness.
May aid differential diagnosis via reproducible tenderness; leaves open prevalence and accuracy in larger prospective cohorts.
Twelve patients with severe, often incapacitating chest pain initially believed to be cardiac in origin were shown on subsequent evaluation to have chest wall syndrome. Diagnosis was suspected by the atypical nature of pain in 11 of 12 patients and confirmed by chest wall tenderness simulating the spontaneously occurring pain in all. Seven patients had chest wall syndrome in conjunction with other associated cardiac conditions. Five patients had isolated chest wall syndrome. All five had normal ejection fractions and no regional wall abnormalities on radionuclide cineangiographic studies performed during symptom-limited supine exercise, findings observed in few patients with coronary artery disease. Chest wall syndrome should be considered in all patients with chest pain, as its recognition can greatly aid in patient care. (JAMA241:2793-2797, 1979)
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Stephen E. Epstein (1979) conducted a case report in Chest pain / Chest wall syndrome (n=12). Chest wall syndrome was evaluated on Diagnosis confirmed by chest wall tenderness. Chest wall syndrome was diagnosed in 12 patients with severe chest pain initially thought to be cardiac, confirmed by chest wall tenderness simulating the spontaneously occurring pain.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: