Cardiac computed tomography for the evaluation of the acute chest pain syndrome: state of the art

Christopher L Schlett; Udo Hoffmann; Tobias Geisler; Konstantin Nikolaou; Fabian Bamberg

doi:10.1016/j.rcl.2014.11.007

Cardiac computed tomography for the evaluation of the acute chest pain syndrome: state of the art

Radiol Clin North Am. 2015 Mar;53(2):297-305. doi: 10.1016/j.rcl.2014.11.007.

Authors

Christopher L Schlett¹, Udo Hoffmann², Tobias Geisler³, Konstantin Nikolaou⁴, Fabian Bamberg⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 110, Heidelberg 69120, Germany; Cardiac MR PET CT Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 165 Cambridge St, Suite 400, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
² Cardiac MR PET CT Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 165 Cambridge St, Suite 400, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
³ Department of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine University Hospital of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Straβe 3, Tübingen 72076, Germany.
⁴ Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Straβe 3, Tübingen 72076, Germany.
⁵ Cardiac MR PET CT Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 165 Cambridge St, Suite 400, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Straβe 3, Tübingen 72076, Germany. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 25726995
DOI: 10.1016/j.rcl.2014.11.007

Abstract

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is recommended for the triage of acute chest pain in patients with a low-to-intermediate likelihood for acute coronary syndrome. Absence of coronary artery disease (CAD) confirmed by CCTA allows rapid emergency department discharge. This article shows that CCTA-based triage is as safe as traditional triage, reduces the hospital length of stay, and may provide cost-effective or even cost-saving care.

Keywords: Acute chest pain syndrome; Acute coronary syndrome; CCTA; Cardiac computed tomography.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Acute Coronary Syndrome / diagnostic imaging*
Coronary Angiography / economics
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Diagnosis, Differential
Humans
Patient Selection
Prognosis
Tomography, X-Ray Computed* / economics
Triage