Diagnosis of noncardiac chest pain in older patients

Barium swallow and gallbladder study may reveal esophageal or gastric cancer, esophageal or duodenal ulcer, or gallstones. If serious GI tract disorders such as these are ruled out, the next step is to seek an esophageal source of recurring chest pain. Intraesophageal acid infusion and edrophonium chloride (Tensilon) stimulation can be used in the office to reproduce chest pain secondary to an esophageal disorder. With either test, reproduction of the patient's typical chest pain is positive. About one-third of patients seen in our laboratory with noncardiac chest pain have a positive response.