Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: Utility of cardiac computed tomography angiography for acute diagnosis

Takotsubo (stress) cardiomyopathy may present as acute cardiovascular collapse, simulating an acute coronary syndrome or other emergencies such as pulmonary embolism or aortic dissection. The diagnosis relies on demonstration of characteristic wall motion abnormalities in the absence of obstructive coronary lesions and is typically diagnosed with cardiac catheterization. Cardiac computed tomography angiography is well suited to use in the emergency setting to diagnose or exclude thoracic cardiovascular events. We describe a case of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy that occurred during induction of anesthesia, in which emergent cardiac computed tomography angiography confirmed the diagnosis and excluded other potential etiologies of disease.