Artifactual findings, what are they?

[Bereagal]

I had a exercise stress test and I got a copy of the results and on the part where it says conclusions it says that that a inferolateral perfusion defect appears artifactual., and basilar anterospetal defect also appears artifactual. What exactly does artifactual mean? My doctor reviewed these results and said that everything was good except for mild left ventricular hypertrophy. He never mentioned the artifactual stuff and I only found it while reading the report and trying to understand alot of medical terms. From what I have been able to read about it, it means that something is seen that is not really there. Well, if it's not really there, how can you see it? Can anyone shed some light on this or maybe someone has had the same results? Thanks in advance for any help.

[Clarissairene]

Yup, found out about artifacts yesterday.

My holter monitor report showed i had 8 runs of VTACH which scared heck out of me. Someone on the board told me it was probably artifacts and I had no idea what they were talking about.

My cardio yesterday told me they were artifacts... meaning they did not really occur (VTACH) but the monitor thought they did. She showed me one vtach run. I had 3 leads attached to me. 2 lines matched and were a normal rhythm. One line was all wacky going up and down. She said it was either loose or motion or technology interferred with it.

I am guessing thats what yours means. So if you see artifacts, dont get to worried. Means it thinks its that but really isnt. Ask your doctor to explain it to you if you are worried. it  helped me!

[tanns]

I had an EKG at my gp's office one time and my cell phone rang.  It interfered with the results and they had to do another one.  The called that an artifact.

I don't know if it is the same, I assumed it meant that something outside the test procedure caused an abnomality.  

There are plenty of other people who answer on this forum that will know more than me!!!  Just thought I'd tell you my one experience with the EKG and cell phone.