The Use of Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography for Patients Presenting with Acute Coronary Syndrome

Acute chest pain requires urgent evaluation to rule out life-threatening causes, including acute coronary syndrome (ACS), aortic dissection, pulmonary embolism, and tension pneumothorax

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS): describes a range of symptoms related to acute myocardial ischemia or infarction. The three traditional types of ACS are non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), ST-elevation MI (STEMI), and unstable angina

Characters of acute coronary syndrome pain (cardiac angina):

·  Pressure, fullness, burning, or tightness in the chest.

· Crushing or searing pain that spreads to the back, neck, jaw, shoulders, and one or both arms.

·  Pain that lasts more than a few minutes, gets worse with activity, goes away and comes back, or varies in intensity.

·  Shortness of breath.