ECG changes with perforated duodenal ulcer mimicking acute cardiac ischemia

A 38-year-old man presented to the emergency department with severe epigastric pain. An electrocardiogram (ECG) showed T wave inversions in leads V2 through V4 consistent with myocardial ischemia. The patient had undergone stress thallium testing and cardiac angiography several months prior for recurrent chest pain, and results from both studies were normal. Pneumoperitoneum seen on a chest X-ray prompted emergency laparotomy. A perforated duodenal ulcer was found and repaired. The ECG changes reverted to normal after surgery.