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Chest pain

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For patients with possible coronary artery disease, but no clear evidence, consider electron-beam CT a  b

Why?

A normal electron-beam CT makes coronary artery disease less likely

Patient Target Disorder and
Reference Standard		 Diagnostic Test LR+
(95% CI)		 Post-test Probability LR-
(95% CI)		 Post-test Probability
suspected coronary artery disease b
(pre-test probability: 56%)		 > 50% stenosis
(coronary angiography)		 electron-beam CT 1.9 71% 0.15 16%
suspected coronary artery disease a
(pre-test probability: 56%)		 > 50% stenosis
(coronary angiography)		 calcification on electron-beam CT 1.5 66% 0.016 2%

 

Expiry date: June 2003
Levels of Evidence used in grading these guides

Author   CM   Ball
Reviewer   S   Straus
CAT Writers   CJ   Wotton , CM   Ball , N   Shenker , RS   Phillips