Ischemia With No Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease: Are Misdiagnosis and Undertreatment Always Behind the Corner?
Giulia Ghizzoni1,2, Giulia Botti1,2, Filippo Russo1
1Interventional Cardiology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Insights
Ischemia with no obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA) can be misdiagnosed due to varied symptoms. This report details 3 cases of INOCA misdiagnosis and their correct diagnostic pathways.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Ischemia with no obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA) is a frequent diagnosis in patients with chest pain undergoing coronary angiography.
- Heterogeneous patient-reported symptoms in INOCA can lead to diagnostic challenges, potentially resulting in misdiagnosis and undertreatment.
Observation:
- This report presents three clinical cases where INOCA was initially misdiagnosed.
- The cases highlight the complexities arising from varied symptom presentation in INOCA.
Findings:
- The study details the reinvestigation process for these misdiagnosed INOCA cases.
- Appropriate diagnostic pathways were crucial in correctly identifying INOCA in these instances.
Implications:
- Accurate and timely diagnosis of INOCA is essential for effective patient management.
- Understanding the diagnostic nuances of INOCA can improve patient outcomes and prevent undertreatment.
Abstract:
Ischemia with no obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA) is not an uncommon diagnosis in patients presenting with chest pain who undergo clinically indicated coronary angiography. However, the symptoms reported by patients with INOCA may be heterogeneous, leading to misdiagnosis and undertreatment. Herein we report 3 clinical cases of INOCA misdiagnosis and describe how the cases were reinvestigated following the appropriate diagnostic pathway. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).
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