Chest Wall Pain
摘要
Chest wall pain disorders are common among adult and pediatric patients in both the ambulatory and emergency environments. Potential etiologies of chest wall pain can be neuropathic (i.e., postmastectomy or post-thoracotomy pain syndrome, intercostal neuralgia, and thoracic radiculopathy), musculoskeletal (i.e., costochondritis, Tietze syndrome, and rib fractures), or rheumatologic/autoimmune (i.e., fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylosis). Some other causes of chest wall pain are cardiopulmonary (i.e., myocardial infarction and pulmonary embolism), gastrointestinal (i.e., esophageal perforation and gastritis), or psychiatric (i.e., somatoform disorders) in nature. Initial diagnostic evaluation starts with a focused history and physical examination with imaging and testing as deemed appropriate. Treatment modalities start with physical therapy (PT), cognitive behavioral therapy and other psychological methods, as well as oral analgesics. Patients who respond poorly to first-line therapy are often referred for interventional pain procedures, surgical evaluation and management, as well as new or repeat diagnostic testing and imaging.