NCJ Number
131275
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 36 Issue: 4 Dated: (July 1991) Pages: 1246-1250
Date Published
1991
Length
5 pages
Annotation
An extremely rare case of sudden death caused by cardiac rupture due to severe fatty infiltration of the myocardium is described.
Abstract
The 74-year old female patient had no history of chest trauma, hypertension, or pulmonary disease. She was hospitalized for complaints of severe lumbago due to osteoporosis. Bed rests and estrogen treatment were prescribed. The patient was found dead in bed several hours after the last inspection in the early morning of the 11th hospital day. The autopsy showed a small tear in the right ventricle with cardiac tamponade, but no evidence of coronary artery lesions. The only abnormality found was severe fatty replacement in the right ventricular myocardium. Histologic examination revealed severe fatty infiltration and replacement of most of the myocardium. At the rupture sites, only several layers of the muscle fiber were left at the endocardial sites of the fatty walls into which the slight bleeding had penetrated. Because the fat infiltrated the connective tissue stroma, separation and atrophy or loss of muscle fibers resulted. These findings indicate that severe fatty infiltration of the myocardium can cause serious cardiac dysfunction or sudden death. 3 figures and 9 references (Author abstract modified)