An unusual complication of myocardial infarction

Abstract

Despite medical and interventional advances, the mechanical complications of acute myocardial infarction are associated with high mortality. Timely surgical therapy requires a prompt and accurate diagnosis. Multimodality imaging has become the standard of care in modern cardiology. Despite the widespread use and cost-effectiveness of cardiac ultrasound in the acute setting, the method is highly user-dependent. In complex cases a second imaging technique is often required. The case presents the key role of multimodal imaging in the evaluation of a patient with a very rare complication of an acute myocardial infarction, a pseudoaneurysm of the interventricular septum respectively. In addition to confirming the diagnosis assumed by echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography provides additional structural and functional information essential to proper management.