What does this research mean for the field?

Takotsubo syndrome and apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can exhibit overlapping clinical and imaging features, leading to diagnostic mimicry. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To describe a case of Takotsubo syndrome that presented with clinical and imaging features mimicking apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

May 22, 2026Clinical Case ReportsOpen Access

Takotsubo Syndrome Mimicking Apical Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Case Report

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Why the study?

Although Takotsubo syndrome and apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy present with opposing imaging features, their findings can significantly overlap, particularly in early disease stages.

Key Points

To describe a case of Takotsubo syndrome that presented with clinical and imaging features mimicking apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Evaluated a 66-year-old female presenting with acute cardiac dysfunction after an initial stress trigger.
Performed serial cardiac evaluations to assess left ventricular morphology and apical wall changes over time.
Initial clinical presentation and imaging demonstrated classic apical ballooning consistent with Takotsubo syndrome.
Subsequent clinical course revealed transient features of apical left ventricular wall thickening and apical cavity obliteration mimicking an apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy phenotype.

Structured PICO

Population

66-year-old woman whose initial presentation was consistent with Takotsubo syndrome but later raised suspicion of an apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy phenotype

Takotsubo syndrome and apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can have significantly overlapping imaging features in the early stages of the disease, posing a diagnostic challenge.

Implication

TTS-ApHCM overlap may complicate early diagnosis; case reports leave open need for serial imaging criteria.

Abstract

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is a reversible form of cardiomyopathy that is triggered by emotional or physical stress, leading to a typical image of apical ballooning. In contrast, apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (ApHCM) is a condition characterized by thickening of the left ventricular (LV) apical wall and obliteration of the LV apex. Although both conditions result in opposing imaging features, they can significantly overlap, especially in the early stages of the disease. This report describes a case of a 66-year-old woman whose initial presentation was consistent with TTS but later raised suspicion of an ApHCM phenotype.