Atypical Posterior Myocardial Infarction With Minimal Symptoms: Diagnostic Impact of Point-of-Care Ultrasound
Posterior myocardial infarction (PMI) is frequently under-recognised due to its non-classical electrocardiographic (ECG) presentation and variable symptom profile. We report a case of a 39-year-old male patient presenting with minimal chest pain and subtle ECG changes, in whom bedside point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) played a pivotal role in diagnosis. Despite an initial low-risk clinical impression and non-diagnostic ECG findings, POCUS revealed regional wall motion abnormalities, prompting urgent cardiology reassessment. Subsequent transthoracic echocardiography confirmed inferior wall hypokinesia, and coronary angiography identified a proximal right coronary artery lesion due to plaque erosion, requiring percutaneous coronary intervention. This case underscores the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion in atypical presentations and highlights the value of POCUS in early diagnosis, risk stratification, and timely clinical decision-making.
Authors
- Hamid Zafar
- H. Ibrahim
- Waleed Khalid Khalafallah Khalid
- Saad Tariq Aziz
Publication Details
- Journal
- Cureus
- Published
- 2026-04-21
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.107446
- Primary Topic
- Ultrasound in Clinical Applications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00