Chest pain in the nontraumatized patient

The radiologist plays an important role in the examination of nontraumatized patients with chest pain presenting in the emergency room. In some instances, a diagnosis can be made on the basis of the initial radiograph. In others, consultation with the referring physician may either make the diagnosis or indicate a need for additional view or other imaging procedures. In this discussion, medical conditions associated with various radiographic appearances of the chest have been considered. We have not attempted to be encyclopedic, but have confined ourselves to the more common or distinctiive radiographic findings. Obviously, chest pain can occur from many other causes including primary disease in the neck, abdomen, and skeletal system.