Abstract:
Pediatric Chest Pain is a common clinical condition among the Pediatric population. Acute chest pain often results in presentation to urgent care or emergency services The recognition and treatment of emergent causes of pediatric chest pain is of utmost importance in improving clinical outcomes. In addition, reduction of unnecessary, low yield testing is possible by distinguishing emergent from non-emergent conditions.
In the era of advanced diagnostic testing, imaging and artificial intelligence, distinguishing emergent from non-emergent conditions could become more efficient and lead to earlier treatment.
Idiopathic benign, self-limited and musculoskeletal chest pain, among an otherwise healthy pediatric population are common conditions. The identification of the hallmark clinical, laboratory and imaging features of more serious causes will be highlighted in this presentation. The review focuses on pulmonary and cardiac conditions, based on epidemiologic studies.
The specific goals of the summary are to:
• Identify emergent causes of Pediatric Chest Pain
• Describe clinical features of Pulmonary Etiologies of Chest Pain
• Identify the radiographic and laboratory markers associated with specific causes of Pediatric Chest Pain
In addition, a review of studies will be included. Key imaging findings found on chest x rays include hallmark features which aid in establishing the diagnosis.
An introduction to the anatomy of the cardiac origins of chest pain, chest wall and innervation of the pleura will establish the pathogenesis by anatomic location. The organization of the summary of the highlighted conditions of Pediatric Chest Pain includes literature relevant to Chest Wall, Cardiac and Pulmonary disease.
Systemic diseases associated with chest pain, including the SARS CoV-2 complications of MISC, vaccine/non vaccine related myocarditis and sickle cell disease/acute chest syndrome are additional less common serious causes of pediatric chest pain.
In conclusion, this summary of anatomic, clinical, imaging and diagnostic testing provides a framework for clinical diagnostic approaches to the patient with Pediatric Chest Pain.
