Diagnostic Tests for Chest pain

Diagnostic Test list for Chest pain:

The list of diagnostic tests mentioned in various sources as used in the diagnosis of Chest pain includes:

• Physical examination
  • General appearance e.g. pale and sweating must consider heart attack, dissecting aneurysm or pulmonary embolism
  • Blood pressure - if significantly high must consider dissecting aneurysm, but may also occasionally be significantly high in heart attack.
  • Pulses including radial (at wrist) and femoral (in groin) - check rate, regularity and for the absence of femoral pulse in dissecting aneurysm.
  • Temperature may be elevated in pneumonia or pericarditis
  • Feel and inspect chest wall, lower cervical spine and thoracic spine for evidence of tenderness, fracture and herpes zoster
  • Examine legs for evidence of deep venous thrombosis which may suggest pulmonary embolus as cause of chest pain
  • Listen to heart for murmurs or added sounds that may indicate mitral valve prolapse, dissecting aneurysm or pericarditis
  • Listen to lungs for evidence of pneumothorax, pleurisy, cardiac failure
  • Examine upper abdomen for tenderness that may suggest gall bladder disease or peptic ulceration
• Blood tests
  • Full blood count and ESR
  • Electrolytes and renal function tests
  • Liver function tests
  • Cardiac enzymes and troponin levels can help diagnose heart attack
  • Syphilis screen
• Electrocardiogram - may help detect angina, heart attack, pericarditis, arrhythmias and pulmonary embolism.
• Arterial blood gases - can help detect pulmonary embolism.
• Radiological investigations
  • Chest X-Ray may detect congestive cardiac failure as a result of heart attack, pneumonia, lung and pleural cancer, dissecting aneurysm
  • Thallium-201 scan is useful in diagnosing both heart attack and angina
  • Coronary angiography should be considered if suspect heart attack and condition deteriorates and may also be necessary to help diagnose angina
  • Ventilation-perfusion scan if suspect pulmonary embolism
  • Pulmonary angiography should be considered if arterial blood gases and ventilation-perfusion scan are negative and still suspect pulmonary embolism
  • Upper GI series if suspect esophageal disease
  • Echocardiogram can help diagnose pericarditis, mitral valve prolapse and various cardiomyopathies
  • CT scan or MRI of chest can help diagnose pericarditis, lung and pleural tumors, dissecting aneurysms
  • X-Ray of cervical and/or thoracic spine if suspect spinal dysfunction as cause of chest pain
• Exercise tolerance test - may help diagnose angina.
• Esophagoscopy and gastroscopy - to help diagnose esophageal disease.
• Ambulatory pH monitoring - may diagnose reflux oesophagitis.
• 24hr holter monitor - is useful in diagnosing arrhythmias and angina.
• Physical exam
• Blood tests
• ECG
• X-rays
• Scans

Home Diagnostic Testing

These home medical tests may be relevant to Chest pain causes:

• High Blood Pressure: Home Testing
  • Home Blood Pressure Hypertension Tests
  • Home Blood Pressure Monitors
  • Home Heart Tests
• Heart Health: Home Testing:
  • Heart Rate Monitors
  • Irregular Heartbeat Detection
  • Heart Electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • Home Blood Pressure Testing
  • Home Cholesterol Testing
• Lung & Respiratory Health Tests:
  • Asthma-Related Home Test Kits
  • Home Lung Function Test Kits
• Nerve Neuropathy: Related Home Testing:
  • Home Diabetes Test Kits
  • Home Blood Glucose Testing Kits

 » Next page: Glossary

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