Project description:Apical akinesis and dilation in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease is a typical feature of stress-induced (takotsubo) cardiomyopathy, whereas apical hypertrophy is seen in apical-variant hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. We report the cases of 2 patients who presented with takotsubo cardiomyopathy and were subsequently found to have apical-variant hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, after the apical ballooning from the takotsubo cardiomyopathy had resolved. The first patient, a 43-year-old woman with a history of alcohol abuse, presented with shortness of breath, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic features consistent with takotsubo cardiomyopathy, and no significant coronary artery disease. An echocardiogram 2 weeks later revealed a normal left ventricular ejection fraction and newly apparent apical hypertrophy. The 2nd patient, a 70-year-old woman with pancreatitis, presented with chest pain, apical akinesis, and a left ventricular ejection fraction of 0.39, consistent with takotsubo cardiomyopathy. One month later, her left ventricular ejection fraction was normal; however, hypertrophy of the left ventricular apex was newly noted. To our knowledge, these are the first reported cases in which apical-variant hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was masked by apical ballooning from stress-induced cardiomyopathy.
Project description:We describe the case of a 66-year-old female presented to our emergency department (ER) with acute chest pain and diagnosed with Takotsubo syndrome that initially prevented from suspecting an apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy at echocardiography.
Project description:Chronic expanding intrapericardial hematoma can be treated surgically; however, a correct diagnosis is not always established, thus the condition remains untreated. A 76-year-old man was referred to us with a diagnosis of congestive heart failure. The patient had experienced blunt trauma to the chest 50 years earlier (during bar practice). Cardiac computed tomography revealed a cystic mass wrapped in a calcified membrane that was impeding inflow to the right atrium and ventricle. Cardiac catheterization revealed that the right ventricular pressure had a dip and plateau pattern. We diagnosed the patient with constrictive pericarditis-induced chronic expanding intrapericardial hematoma and agreed upon surgical management. We removed the hematoma and performed a pericardiectomy. The postoperative course was uneventful. In conclusion, chronic expanding intrapericardial hematoma can develop after blunt chest trauma and can be diagnosed precisely with cardiac computed tomography.Learning objectiveA 76-year-old man presented with congestive heart failure. The patient had experienced blunt trauma to the chest 50 years earlier. Cardiac computed tomography (CT) revealed a cystic mass within a calcified membrane that was impeding inflow in the right atrium and ventricle. We diagnosed chronic expanding intrapericardial hematoma (CEIH). We successfully removed the hematoma and performed a pericardiectomy. CEIH can develop after blunt chest trauma and could be diagnosed earlier with cardiac CT.
Project description:BackgroundApical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy provides diagnostic challenges through varying presentation, impaired visualization on echocardiography and dissent on diagnostic criteria. While hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in general requires an absolute wall thickness ≥15 mm, a threshold for relative apical hypertrophy (ratio 1.5) has been proposed.Case summaryWe report the case of a 57-year-old man with newly arisen chest pain and slight T-wave inversions. Serial cardiac magnetic resonance imaging over 9 years documented the gradual evolvement of late-onset apical hypertrophy with apical fibrosis and strain abnormalities. Symptoms, electrocardiographic changes, and relative apical hypertrophy preceded the traditional imaging criteria of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.DiscussionRelative apical hypertrophy can be an early manifestation of apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Persistent cardiac signs and symptoms warrant a follow-up, as apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can evolve over time. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging readily visualizes apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and associated changes in tissue composition and function.
Project description:A chronic expanding hematoma of the chest is rare after blunt chest trauma. Chest radiography and computed tomography showed a huge mass with focal calcification within the mass. Surgical removal is the main treatment for thoracic hematomas.