Unmasking Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection in a Patient With Misleading Symptoms and Initial Imaging Results.

BACKGROUND

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is often missed by conventional, and even invasive diagnostic approaches in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome.

CASE SUMMARY

A 32-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department with acute chest pain after emotional distress. ST-segment elevations and elevated troponin levels were documented. Invasive coronary angiography showed no obstructive coronary artery disease but suspected spasm of the left anterior descending artery. Takotsubo syndrome was considered to be caused by apical wall motion abnormalities on echocardiography. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging revealed ischemic myocardial injury, prompting second-look invasive coronary angiography including optical coherence tomography. A spontaneous coronary artery dissection of the left anterior descending artery with an intramural hematoma and preserved TIMI flow grade 3 was diagnosed, leading to conservative medical management.

DISCUSSION

Although conventional diagnostic assessments may be misleading, multimodal imaging including cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging helps to accurately identify subentities and mimics of myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries, guiding advanced intravascular imaging and therapy.