ECG and thallium imaging abnormalities with normal coronary angiogram in a male flight surgeon.
Coronary artery disease and cardiac anomalies have the potential to cause sudden incapacitation in the flight environment with potentially disastrous consequences. Flight surgeons are responsible for screening for these potential diseases. We report a case of a healthy, active, asymptomatic U.S. flight surgeon returning for duty who demonstrated an abnormal ECG, graded exercise test, and thallium imaging. He was ultimately referred for cardiac catheterization that revealed normal coronary arteries. We discuss the sensitivity of non-invasive screening studies in healthy young individuals and potential causes of "false-positive" thallium imaging.
Fitzsimons
Michael G
MG
Department of Family Medicine, Martin Army Community Hospital and Division of Cardiac Anesthesia and Critical Care, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA. mfitzsimons@partners.org
Parrado
Carlos
C
D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D013794:Thallium Radioisotopes; D014481:United States
D013794:Thallium Radioisotopes