Background: Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (AHCM) is a subtype of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Due to its location, the thickening of the left ventricular apex can be missed on echocardiography. Giant negative T waves (GNTs) in left-sided chest leads are the hallmark electrocardiogram (ECG) change of AHCM.
Case summary: The first patient was a 68-year-old woman complaining of recurrent chest tightness persisting for more than 3 years. The second was a 59-year-old man complaining of spasmodic chest tightness persisting for more than 2 years. The third was a 55-year-old woman complaining of recurrent chest pain persisting for 4 mo. In all three cases, GNTs were observed several years prior to apical cardiac hypertrophy after other causes of T-wave inversion were ruled out.
Conclusion: Electrophysiological abnormalities of AHCM appear earlier than structural abnormalities, confirming the early predictive value of ECG for AHCM.
Keywords: Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; Case report; Echocardiography; Electrocardiogram; Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; Negative T waves.
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