Exercise-induced left bundle branch block during thallium 201 myocardial perfusion scintigraphy--a case report

Abstract

Exercise-induced left bundle branch block (Ex-LBBB) is a rare entity encountered during exercise testing. The authors present a 53-year-old woman who developed intermittent Ex-LBBB asymptomatically during Tl 201 myocardial perfusion scintigraphy. Scintigraphic findings revealed septal-anteroseptal ischemia while the coronary arteriogram appeared normal. False-positive septal-anteroseptal scintigraphic findings suggesting ischemia in patients with persistent left bundle branch block (LBBB) is well known, but since the LBBB in this case was induced by exercise testing and was spontaneously terminated at rest, scintigraphic findings may be attributed to microcirculatory ischemia, which cannot be detected angiographically, as the cause of Ex-LBBB.