Diagnostic pitfalls in a scanned electrocardiogram

Abstract

Diagnostic accuracy in electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation is important for medical directors. Both confirming and discarding the diagnosis of a specific abnormality may greatly influence the assessment of an applicant's mortality risk. In the insurance industry, an additional challenge for ECG interpretation is the increasing use of scanned images. This case study illustrates some of the pitfalls in the electrocardiographic interpretation of a common prognostically important ECG abnormality.