Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy after automobile accident

A 53-year-old woman was involved in a traffic accident while driving her car. She had chest oppressive sensation 6 h after the accident, and was admitted to our hospital. On admission, she had no external injury. She was fully conscious, and felt anxiety about the accident. Twelve-lead electrocardiogram showed mild ST-segment elevation in leads II, III, aVF and V2-5. Chest X-ray did not show pneumothorax, rib fracture or pulmonary congestion. Emergency coronary angiography showed no significant coronary artery disease. However, left ventriculography showed akinesia of the mid-to-distal portion of the left ventricular chamber and hyperkinesia of the basal portion (ejection fraction = 45%). She was diagnosed as having tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy. Follow-up left ventriculography 11 days later showed normal wall motion of the left ventricular chamber (ejection fraction = 62%). Clinicians should recognize that tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy is one of etiologies of chest symptom after automobile accident. It can occur due to emotional stress even if patients have no external injury.