Cases from the aerospace medicine residents' teaching file. Case report of an aviator with focal myocarditis mimicking myocardial infarction with normal coronaries.
A military aviator was initially diagnosed with myocardial infarction following a viral syndrome. Confusion about recurrence of chest pain versus gastritis led to his continued cardiac patient status until this was clarified diagnostically. He was presumed to have had coronary vasospasm, and was treated with a calcium channel blocker. Absent his strong desire to return to flying duties, he may have continued in that diagnostic pathway indefinitely. After thorough aeromedical evaluation, resolved focal viral myocarditis was felt to be the most likely diagnosis and he was returned to military flying duties.
Huff
Lester Andrew
LA
USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, TX, USA.
Kruyer
William B
WB
D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000175:diagnosis*