[Sudden chest pain and lower abdominal pain : The usual suspects]

Sudden chest pain and sudden abdominal pain are among the most common reasons that lead patients to the emergency room. The heterogeneous field of possible, sometimes serious diagnoses requires a structured and rapid interdisciplinary clarification in order to be able to promptly provide patients with an adequate therapy.

Knowing the "usual suspects" of sudden chest and abdominal pain enables the radiologist to quickly select the appropriate imaging method that allows a diagnosis to be made without delay. In addition to pain localization and character, age, gender, any previous illnesses and laboratory results are taken into account in the differential diagnosis.

The technical state of computer tomography (CT) now ensures that most diagnoses can be clarified due to its excellent spatial and temporal resolution. In the abdomen, however, ultrasound should continue to be used at least for primary evaluation. Only if there is a further need for abdominal imaging afterwards is CT indicated for clarification. Magnetic resonance imaging is rarely used in the emergency setting of abdominal pain except to avoid radiation exposure in children or pregnant women.

Knowledge of the usual diagnoses that cause sudden chest or abdominal pain, as well as knowledge of the appropriate examination procedures and classic radiological signs are essential to avoid errors and delays in the emergency diagnosis of sudden chest and abdominal pain.