Metastatic Cardiac Tumor Presenting as an Anteroseptal ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction in a Young Male.

In the appropriate clinical context, ST-segment elevation on electrocardiogram (ECG) necessitates prompt evaluation for coronary artery occlusion requiring reperfusion with percutaneous coronary intervention. Conversely, the etiology of ST-segment elevation may be representative of an alternative diagnosis other than myocardial infarction. We report the case of a patient with a history of primary bone sarcoma who presented for further evaluation of a large pericardial effusion identified on an outpatient echocardiogram and was found to have ST-segment elevation on ECG in the absence of any cardiopulmonary symptoms. The ECG abnormalities were attributed to a likely persistent current of injury resulting from a mass in the interventricular septum, likely representative of a metastatic lesion of his known malignancy. This case highlights the importance of maintaining a broad differential for ST-segment elevation, particularly in patients without symptoms of angina and those with a history of aggressive or relapsing cancer to minimize the morbidity and mortality of invasive procedures.

Down on your luck: cardiomyopathy precipitated by a bar fight.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is characterized by transient loss of systolic function in the absence of coronary artery disease. It is significantly more common in post-menopausal women and is typically brought on by intense emotional stress. Pathophysiology is not completely elucidated, but it appears to be related, in part, to excess catecholamine; this results in coronary artery vasospasm, ischemia and eventual ventricular dysfunction. Patient presentation can vary widely, but typically presents similar to acute coronary syndrome. Management involves acute stabilization and monitoring, as well as guideline-directed medical therapy for heart failure. We report a very unique case of a healthy male patient presenting with nonanginal symptoms of racing heart, who was found to have cardiomyopathy following a physical encounter. This case serves to bring into awareness that intense physical encounters may be sufficient to induce cardiomyopathy without presenting angina.