A partial defect in technetium-99m pyrophosphate image suggesting cardiac rupture following acute myocardial infarction.

We present the case of a 70-year-old woman with acute myocardial infarction who died of cardiac rupture on the 2nd hospital day. Dual isotope single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using thallium-201 chloride and technetium-99m pyrophosphate (PYP) performed on the 2nd hospital day showed a large perfusion defect in the anteroseptal wall on 201Tl image and a increased accumulation on 99mTc-PYP image in the anterior area consistent with a partial defect. Autopsy performed 1 h after death revealed a tear in the left ventricular anterior wall consistent with the defect on the 99mTc-PYP image. We propose that the finding of a partial defect in 99mTc-PYP is an interesting finding which may be associated with cardiac rupture following acute myocardial infarction.