False Negative result of CT Angiogram

[Tab1966]

In August 2016 I had a CT Angiogram after I had central chest pain and breathlessness upon exertion. The result was that the CT angiogram was completely normal. I was therefore offered no treatment, medication or follow up appointment.

In August 2017, I did an exercise test after I pressurised my GP (only with tears!) to re-refer me to Cardiology. It was an abnormal test and I was referred for an Angiogram. I ended up with 5 stents being fitted with 85% / 80% and 70% blockages in all three main coronary arteries. A mere 12 months after a normal CT angiogram and with exactly the same symptoms as a year previous.

When I questioned my Consultant about how this was possible, he advised that the CT Angiogram result was reported as normal but was probably a false negative result.

Has anybody else any experience of this?

I am quite shocked that this is even possible and that for 12 months I was at risk because of it. It seems impossible to me that a false negative result is even possible!

[Allyboy1973]

I was very similar I had chest pains that gradually got worse and worse I'd been too the hospital they told me it was muscular or perhaps a cracked rib ... so continued working was in agony on exersion ... had enough at that point went too the hospital got a couple of tests then sent home yes it's defo a cracked rib ... 40 mins later had a massive heart attack at home rushed back in and ended up with stents ... etc I feel you have too fight if you don't feel right you know your own body doctors and tests aren't 100% concrete...

[Tab1966 in reply to Allyboy1973]

Yes, you definately have to be persistent sometimes. Thankfully my GP who we nicknamed Dr Fobber-offer, retired earlier this year otherwise he would never have re-referred me. He even told me that the NHS had wasted enough money looking at my heart!! My new GP is much more thorough and sympathetic and thankfully listened to me, even though every other test (blood, monitor and the CT Angiogram) were all normal.

Still, we got there in the end and I've been treated succssfully thankfully.

I hope you too are feeling much better now and continue to recover.

[Andie1975]

Hi, your story is rather worrying! I can't understand how you can get a false negative on something like an angiogram, I mean they go in with dye into the arteries so can see blockages there on the screen, it just doesn't make sense.

I continue to get chest pains after my stents were fitted 6 weeks ago but have been told it's anxiety as my c reactive protein is 1 and would be way higher than that if it was angina. I don't think this proves anything as they wouldn't need angiogram if all they had to do was test for inflammatory markers in people's bloods. I was initially told 3 separate times/3 visits in A and E just days before my heart attack that I had heartburn only to return the 4th time with a heart attack therefore I have a hard time trusting the doctors.

Are you feeling better now, after the stents?

[Tab1966 in reply to Andie1975]

Hi, thanks for your reply.

I'm feeling much better now I've been treated. I'm sorry to hear that you're still feeling pain since your stents. After my experience, I think that if you're still not satisfied with the explanation then maybe you should ask for a second opinion from another doctor.

As for my false negative result on the CT Angiogram, I agree with you, I can't see that it's possible. I'm wondering whether there was mistake in the reporting rather than in the test itself. Human error! I can't decide whether it'

[Tab1966]

Cont'd...whether it's worth pursuing or not.

[nam76]

My father was admitted to RFH this year in mid March after what we thought was a heart attack at home. He was discharged home with a loop recorder and reassured that he definately did not have a heart attack as the Angiogram did not detect anything. Sadly, just 5 wks later he suffered a heart attack while driving to work and died in a road traffic accident secondary to the heart attack. Post Morterm (PM) report showed that there was evidence of an chronic myocardial infarction ( the old heart attack) on top of the one that killed him. PM shockingly showed that his coronary arteries were 85 % blocked which the Angiogram did not pick up and he was discharged home. We are devastated that this was a preventable death if they had done their job properly.

[Tab1966]

I am so sorry for your loss and that you have to process such shocking information. That his death was probably preventable must be devastating for you and hugely unforgivable I would imagine, and my heart goes out to you.

Can I ask you, was it a CT Angiogram that initially confirmed that there was no heart attack? If so, it makes me question even more why it is used as a diagnostic tool if it open to misinterpration or misdiagnosis.

Personally, I'm awaiting further investigations and this time I am having a Stress MRI, rather than a CT angiogram. Although I think I would have refused one had it been offered!

Whatever you decide to do in respect of the Post mortem results, I wish you good luck and peace of mind.

[corgi02]

I have the opposite - a CT scan last September showed I had severe CAD. I was booked in for an angiogram and possible stents. The angiogram showed my arteries to be clear. CT scans are clearly not very accurate! Best wishes.