Table 3

Causes of false negative and false positive stress echocardiograms

False negativesFalse positives
CABG, coronary artery bypass grafting; LBBB, left bundle branch block
Inadequate stressOver interpretation, interpreter bias
Antianginal treatment (especially β blockers)Localised basal inferior wall abnormalities
Mild stenosesAbnormal septal motion (LBBB, post-CABG)
Left circumflex disease
Poor image qualityCardiomyopathies
Delayed images post-stressHypertensive responses to stress