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Single coronary artery presenting as angina

Zhan Yun Lim1, Nimit Shah, Fouad Amin

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Wexham Park Hospital, Slough, Berkshire, UK. zhanyun_lim@yahoo.com

BMJ Case Reports
|July 17, 2012
PubMed

Insights

This case study examines an unusual presentation of chest pain in an elderly woman. It highlights the importance of considering rare diagnoses in geriatric cardiology.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Geriatric Medicine

Background:

  • Chest pain is a common symptom in emergency departments, particularly in the elderly.
  • Atypical presentations are frequent in older adults, posing diagnostic challenges.

Observation:

  • An 84-year-old Caucasian woman presented with an unusual constellation of symptoms attributed to chest pain.
  • The patient's specific clinical presentation deviated from typical myocardial infarction or other common cardiac etiologies.

Findings:

  • Diagnostic workup revealed an uncommon cause for the patient's chest pain, distinct from typical cardiovascular events.
  • Detailed analysis of the case identified specific clinical and diagnostic features leading to the unusual diagnosis.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the need for a broad differential diagnosis in geriatric patients presenting with chest pain.
  • Recognizing atypical presentations is crucial for timely and accurate diagnosis in elderly individuals.
  • Such cases contribute to the understanding of rare causes of chest pain in the aging population.

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