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. 2013 Oct 12;5(6):441–450. doi: 10.4021/jocmr1569w

Table 4. Number of Tests Performed During Workup in 102 Patients Where the Etiological Diagnosis Was Unknown at Discharge but Apparent After Workup.

Test Number (%) Abnormal test (%) Definite diagnosis.
Diagnostic yield of test (%)
Echocardiogram 74 (73) 25 (34) 5 (7)
Long-term ECG monitoring 72 (71) 32 (44) 19 (26)
Stress ECG 13 (13) 1 (8) 1 (8)
Orthostatic hypotension test 30 (29) 8 (27) 7 (23)
Electrophysiological study 10 (10) 2 (20) 2 (20)
Tilt table 36 (35) 25 (69) 22 (61)
Carotid sinus massage 36 (35) 3 (8) 3 (8)
Implantable loop recorder 12 (12) 6 (50) 6 (50)
MRI cerebrum 10 (10) 4 (40) 3 (75)*
CT cerebrum 26 (25) 5 (19) 4 (15)*
Electroencephalogram 13 (13) 4 (31) 4 (31)*

*These 11 tests were performed in patients who received another definitive diagnosis than syncope and were initially classified wrongly by the discharging physician.