The Great Mimicker Unmasked: A Case Report of Cardiac Sarcoidosis Hidden by Myocardial Infarction and Colon Cancer

J Cardiovasc Echogr. 2024 Jul-Sep;34(3):144-148. doi: 10.4103/jcecho.jcecho_40_24. Epub 2024 Sep 21.

Abstract

Cardiac sarcoidosis is an insidious condition with a highly variable clinical presentation that often mimics other diseases. Its diagnosis is particularly challenging, requiring a high index of suspicion and a comprehensive approach. Multimodality imaging plays a critical role in differentiating it from other conditions. We present a patient with cardiac sarcoidosis who also had concomitant coronary artery disease and colon cancer. The optimal therapeutic strategy for cardiac sarcoidosis remains uncertain. However, late gadolinium enhancement, a robust predictor of arrhythmic risk is crucial in guiding treatment decisions. This case report illustrates the risk of oversimplifying complex clinical scenarios by attributing signs and symptoms to a single disease, particularly in young, otherwise apparently healthy individuals. In such cases, clinicians must include rare diseases in their differential diagnosis.

Keywords: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging; multimodality imaging; myocardial infarction; sarcoidosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports