Chapter 013. Chest Discomfort (Part 1) Harrison's Internal Medicine > Part 2. Cardinal Manifestations and Presentation of Diseases > Section 1. Pain > Chapter 13. Chest Discomfort Chest Discomfort: Introduction Chest discomfort is one of the most common challenges for clinicians in the office or emergency department. The differential diagnosis includes conditions affecting organs throughout the thorax and abdomen, with prognostic implications that vary from benign to life-threatening (Table 13-1). Failure to recognize potentially serious conditions such as acute ischemic heart disease, aortic dissection, tension pneumothorax, or pulmonary embolism can lead to serious complications, including death. Conversely, overly conservative management of low-risk patients leads to unnecessary hospital admissions, tests, procedures, and anxiety. Table 13-1 Differential Diagnoses of Patients Admitted to Hospital with Acute Chest Discomfort Ruled Not Myocardial Infarction Diagnosis Percent Gastroesophageal disease a 42 Gastroesophageal reflux Esophageal motility disorders Peptic ulcer Gallstones Ischemic heart disease 31 Chest wall syndromes 28 Pericarditis 4 Pleuritis/pneumonia 2 Pulmonary embolism 2 Lung cancer 1.5 Aortic aneurysm 1 Aortic stenosis 1 Herpes zoster 1 a In order of frequency. Source: P Fruergaard et al: Eur Heart J 17:1028, 1996. Causes of Chest Discomfort Myocardial Ischemia and Injury Myocardial ischemia occurs when the oxygen supply to the heart is not sufficient to meet metabolic needs. This mismatch can result from a decrease in oxygen supply, a rise in demand, or both. The most common underlying cause of myocardial ischemia is obstruction of coronary arteries by atherosclerosis; in the presence of such obstruction, transient ischemic episodes are usually precipitated by an increase in oxygen demand as a result of physical exertion. However, ischemia can also result from psychological stress, fever, or large meals or from compromised oxygen delivery due to anemia, hypoxia, or hypotension. Ventricular hypertrophy due to valvular heart disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or hypertension can predispose the myocardium to ischemia because of impaired penetration of blood flow from epicardial coronary arteries to the endocardium. . Chapter 013. Chest Discomfort (Part 1) Harrison's Internal Medicine > Part 2. Cardinal Manifestations and Presentation of Diseases > Section 1. Pain > Chapter 13. Chest Discomfort. Presentation of Diseases > Section 1. Pain > Chapter 13. Chest Discomfort Chest Discomfort: Introduction Chest discomfort is one of the most common challenges for clinicians in the office. and anxiety. Table 13-1 Differential Diagnoses of Patients Admitted to Hospital with Acute Chest Discomfort Ruled Not Myocardial Infarction Diagnosis Percent Gastroesophageal disease a