Diagnosis and Therapy of Coronary Artery Disease

Because the increasing complexities of diagnos- testing and training, for example) are of neces- ing and treating coronary artery disease are at sity discussed in more than one chapter with times overwhelming for many physicians, the appropriate cross referencing. Special attention purpose of this book is to bring together in one has been directed at making the references as comprehensive yet reasonably concise text a current as possible. Since the aim of the book is to do more than just update the concepts, the scholarly but clinically oriented analysis of the reader is also informed of the pertinent contro- major aspects of coronary artery disease. The book is mainly intended for internists versies in the field. The word controversy is used in its most liberal form, so as to include areas of and clinical cardiologists as well as for those in training for these respective disciplines, but it disagreement or of uncertainty as well as should also be of interest to primary care physi- changes in traditional views. Each of the con- cians responsible for the management of pa- tributors has been asked to identify specifically tients with coronary artery disease. Each of the the most important of the controversies in his contributors-whether cardiologist, radiologist, particular area of interest and to address himself or surgeon-has been selected for his special to these issues in the course of the chapter.