Differential diagnosis of prolonged chest pain

Differential diagnosis of prolonged chest pain

Even though the most important differential diagnosis of prolonged chest pain is acute myocardial infarction, the following disorders have to ruled out:
Aortic dissection – check peripheral pulses for asymmetry
Pericarditis – pericardial rub may be transient, ECG changes may mimic myocardial infarction
Atypical anginal pain associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Esophageal, other upper gastrointestinal, or biliary tract disease
Pulmonary diseases: pneumothorax, pulmonary embolism with or without infarction, Pleurisy: infectious, malignant, or immune disease-related
Chest wall disorders: skeletal, neuropathic – root pain
Psychogenic – somatoform pain disorder