Simple, inexpensive test for diagnosing cardiac-related chest pain

Feb 9 2010

Researchers at the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center have shown that a simple, inexpensive test can determine whether it is safe to send home a patient who comes to the emergency room with chest pain.

"It is imperative to accurately diagnose patients who come to the emergency department with chest pain," said Dr. John Mahmarian, cardiologist at the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center and principal investigator of the study. "Unfortunately, diagnosing chest pain is often expensive and time-consuming. This new data could save millions of health care dollars and countless hours spent waiting on unnecessary tests."

Mahmarian's research, which was published online today in the Annals of Emergency Medicine, shows that patients with a coronary artery calcium score of zero can be safely sent home without further cardiac testing.

Coronary artery calcium scoring (CACS) is a simple and readily available test for identifying coronary artery disease. CACS is done with a computed topography (CT) scanner. A CT scan uses x-rays to make a detailed image of the heart, showing calcium build up in the coronary arteries. The images can be read almost immediately after the scan. A CACS of zero correlates with an excellent short-term outcome and predicts a normal SPECT, which is a more advanced imaging test that is usually done following a CACS test.