CHEST PAIN

Chest pain is a frequent manifestation of cardiac and respiratory disease.

 Central chest pain suggest heart disease but also occurs with tumours affecting
the:-
a) Mediastinum
b) Oesophageal disease or disease of thoracic aorta

 Massive pulmonary embolus may cause

a) Ischemic cardiac pain
b) Severe breathlessness’

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF CHEST PAIN

CARDIAC
a) Myocardial ischemia (angina)
b) Myocardial infarction
c) Myocarditis
d) Pericarditis
e) Mitral valve prolapsed

AORTIC
a) Aortic dissection
b) Aortic aneurysm

LUNGS/PLEURA
a) Pulmonary infarct
b) Pneumonia
c) Pneumothorax
d) Tuberculosis
e) Malignancy
f) Connective tissue disorder

Email:mhagamachristopher15@gmail.com Page 1
NEUROLOGICAL
a) Prolapsed intervertebral disc
b) Herpes zoster
c) Thoracic outlet syndrome

MUSCULOSKELETAL
a) Osteoarthritis
b) Rib fracture
c) Costochondritis
d) Intercoastal muscular injury
e) Epidemic myalgia

Email:mhagamachristopher15@gmail.com Page 2