CT and MRI provide consistent diagnostic support in evaluating patients with non-traumatic chest pain and suspected acute coronary syndromes or myocardial damage in the Emergency Department.
Does the use of CT and MRI improve the diagnostic workflow in patients presenting with non-traumatic chest pain to the Emergency Department?
CT and MRI are essential imaging modalities that enhance the diagnostic workflow for patients presenting with non-traumatic chest pain in the emergency setting.
Current strategies for the evaluation of patients with chest pain have significantly changed thanks to the implemented potentiality of CT and MRI. The possible fatal consequences and high malpractice costs of missed acute coronary syndromes lead to unnecessary hospital admissions every year. CT provides consistent diagnostic support, mainly in suspected coronary disease in patients with a low or intermediate pre-test risk. Moreover, it can gain information in the case of cardiac involvement in pulmonary vascular obstructive disease. MRI, on the other hand, has a leading role in the condition of myocardial damage irrespective of the underlying inflammatory or stress related etiology. This article discusses how radiology techniques (CT and MRI) can impact the diagnostic workflow of the most common cardiac and vascular pathologies that are responsible for non-traumatic chest pain admissions to the Emergency Department.
Liguori et al. (Mon,) conducted a review in Cardiac emergencies and non-traumatic chest pain. CT and MRI was evaluated. CT and MRI provide consistent diagnostic support in evaluating patients with non-traumatic chest pain and suspected acute coronary syndromes or myocardial damage in the Emergency Department.