Reconciling Q waves and late gadolinium enhancement with no angiographic evidence of coronary disease: cardiac sarcoidosis presenting as decompensated heart failure

Cardiac sarcoidosis is rare and subclinical involvement is four to five times more common than clinical involvement. Cardiac sarcoidosis is associated with a poor prognosis. ECG abnormalities are the most common presentation. However, as this case illustrates, it can also present as acute decompensated heart failure. Screening with cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is highly suggested in patients with suspected disease. Diagnosis allows for early initiation of corticosteroids. Cardiac sarcoidosis is more common than previously thought. However, with treatment, survival may also be better than previously reported.