Cardiac computed tomography in the rapid evaluation of acute cardiac emergencies

Approximately 6 million patients are evaluated annually in US emergency departments for acute chest pain. The delineation of the presence or absence of acute coronary syndromes in these patients must be accurate and efficient in order to prevent missed diagnoses. Coronary computed tomography angiography has great promise as a tool to expedite the triage of patients with acute chest pain to early discharge or further inpatient diagnosis and treatment.