Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) or left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome is typically characterized by reversible systolic dysfunction of the apical and mid-segments of the left ventricle. Symptoms are precipitated by intense emotional or physical stress, in the absence of obstructive coronary artery lesions. The most common presentation of TC is a transient left ventricular apical ballooning. However, recent case reports have described various patterns of TC associated with distinct regional left ventricular wall motion abnormalities. One of these variants, referred to as a “mid-ventricular” type, is characterized by akinesis with or without ballooning of the mid-ventricular segment, together with a hyperdynamic base and apex. Using left ventriculography we describe an atypical form of TC with transient, focal mid-ventricular ballooning of the anterior segment, followed by complete resolution of ballooning, as observed by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging.
