Myocardial Infarction and Reversible Left Ventricular Apical Ballooning Associated With Pheochromocytoma

Abstract

We report a 73-year-old woman who presented with chest pain, electrocardiogram changes, and serum troponin levels consistent with an acute myocardial infarction. Cardiac catheterization showed normal coronaries and a left ventriculogram was consistent with reversible left ventricular apical ballooning, or “takotsubo” cardiomyopathy. She had a 5-cm left adrenal mass on a recent abdominal computed tomography. The cardiomyopathy resolved in 1 week, and she was later diagnosed with a pheochromocytoma. The tumor was successfully removed with full recovery. This case illustrates the association between pheochromocytoma and reversible left ventricular apical ballooning. This kind of case has only been reported once before.