False-positive electrocardiographic changes during exercise test in a patient with pectus excavatum

J Clin Ultrasound. 2020 Nov;48(9):579-584. doi: 10.1002/jcu.22831. Epub 2020 Apr 6.

Abstract

Exercise-induced ST-segment changes simulating myocardial ischemia have been described in otherwise normal subjects during hyperventilation. We present the case of a 60-year-old man with pectus excavatum showing significant exercise-induced "pseudo-ischaemic" ST-segment changes with neither coronary artery disease nor anxiety-induced hyperventilation. We found no report of the possible causative role of a narrow antero-posterior chest diameter in inducing "pseudo-ischaemic" ST-segment changes during exercise stress test in the literature.

Keywords: pectus excavatum; echocardiography; exercise stress test; pseudo-ischemic ST-segment changes.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Coronary Angiography
  • Coronary Artery Disease
  • Electrocardiography / methods
  • Exercise Test
  • Female
  • Funnel Chest / diagnostic imaging
  • Funnel Chest / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Ischemia / diagnostic imaging
  • Myocardial Ischemia / physiopathology