The pain of ____ can frequently be mistaken for cardiac chest pain
A. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
B. Peptic ulcer disease (PUD)
C. Cholecystitis
D. All of the above
ANS: D
It is often difficult to differentiate the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or peptic ulcer disease (PUD) from cardiac symptoms. A thorough history and diagnostic tests are necessary. Patients with a history of GERD or PUD should still be worked up for a cardiac etiology, particularly if the characteristics of the symptoms or the history have changed to raise the index of suspicion for cardiac disease. The pain of cholecystitis, also sometimes mistaken for cardiac pain, typically presents with right upper quadrant pain with radiation to the thoracic region of the back.
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