Severe coronary artery disease presenting with a chief complaint of cervical pain

Jason S Lipetz1, Juan Ledon, Jeff Silber

  • 1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.

Insights

A 49-year-old man experienced prolonged cervical pain, but diagnostic tests revealed no spinal issues. His symptoms resolved after coronary artery bypass grafting, highlighting the link between cardiac ischemia and cervical pain.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Neurology
  • Pain Medicine

Background:

  • Cervical pain can be misattributed to spinal issues.
  • Cardiac conditions can present with atypical symptoms.

Observation:

  • A 49-year-old male presented with 14 weeks of cervical pain.
  • Cervical spine imaging and examination revealed no abnormalities.
  • Cardiac catheterization showed advanced multivessel disease.

Findings:

  • The patient's cervical pain resolved after coronary artery bypass grafting.
  • This case demonstrates a potential overlap in symptom referral between cardiac and cervical origins.

Implications:

  • Physicians should consider cardiac ischemia in patients with unexplained cervical pain.
  • This atypical presentation underscores the importance of a comprehensive differential diagnosis.

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