Terminology for Location of Acute Myocardial Infarcts

Among patients with clinical features suggesting acute myocardial infarction (AMI), the standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) has been extremely useful during the past 50 years in establishing the diagnosis of myocardial necrosis. In addition to indicating the presence of AMI, the ECG has provided certain information regarding the location of the AMI. This chapter, which is adapted from a previous report [1], reexamines the reliability of the ECG in predicting the anatomic location of AMI and suggests a common terminology for designating the location of AMI, applicable both electrocardiographically and morphologically.