Undiagnosed cardiac sarcoidosis presenting as complete heart block and ventricular arrhythmia

Kyle Mcbeath1, Shohreh Honarbakhsh1, Mohammad Chowdhury1

  • 1Department of Cardiology, King George Hospital and Barking, Havering, Redbridge NHS Trust, London, UK.

BMJ Case Reports
|August 19, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Early diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis is crucial. This case highlights 18F-FDG PET/CT

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Immunology
  • Nuclear Medicine

Background:

  • Cardiac sarcoidosis affects up to 50% of sarcoidosis patients, significantly worsening prognosis.
  • Early detection and treatment of cardiac sarcoidosis are vital to prevent arrhythmias and heart failure.

Observation:

  • A young male presented with complete heart block and preserved biventricular function.
  • He later experienced ventricular tachycardia with impaired left ventricular function, indicative of undiagnosed systemic sarcoidosis.

Findings:

  • 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) enabled accurate diagnosis.
  • The case demonstrates the diagnostic utility of 18F-FDG PET/CT in cardiac sarcoidosis.

Implications:

  • 18F-FDG PET/CT is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone in managing and monitoring cardiac sarcoidosis.
  • This imaging modality aids in timely intervention, potentially improving patient outcomes.

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