Unusual cause of chest pain in a 60-year-old woman

Chest pain is a common emergency department complaint. Many patients presenting with this complaint are discharged with the nonspecific diagnosis of musculoskeletal chest pain. That was the diagnosis given to the patient in this case at the time of her initial presentation to the ED, a diagnosis that was correct but incomplete. This case illustrates the importance of taking a complete history, including a thorough review of systems in every patient, even when the diagnosis seems obvious. [Harbick S, Frederick R, Ward M, Cummings A.J. Unusual cause of chest pain in a 60-year-old woman. Ann Emerg Med. April 2000;35:382-390.]