Quantitative assessment of endomyocardial biopsy in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia: an in vitro validation of diagnostic criteria.

Aims: To provide a standardized endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) protocol and diagnostic quantitative parameters for arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia (ARVC/D). The Task Force criteria for the in vivo diagnosis of ARVC/D include tissue characterization by EMB as a major criterion.

Methods And Results: EMBs were simulated in vitro with a Cordis bioptome in explanted hearts from six groups: diffuse (n = 10) and segmental (n = 10) ARVC/D, dilated cardiomyopathy (DC) (n = 10), controls (n = 10), adipositas cordis (n = 10), elderly >80 years (n = 10).

Morphologic validation of reperfused hemorrhagic myocardial infarction by cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

The purposes of this study were to assess the ex vivo cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) signals of pathologically proved hemorrhagic myocardial infarction (MI) and to correlate these with in vivo CMR findings. Late gadolinium hypoenhancement within a hyperenhanced area in reperfused acute MI is ascribed to severe microvascular obstruction. The hearts of 2 patients, who died from cardiogenic shock after acute MIs and who had undergone coronary recanalization and in vivo CMR, were examined by T(2) and T(1) late enhancement sequences as well as by gross and histologic investigation.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection mimicking aortic dissection.

A 51-year-old woman suffered rapidly irreversible cardiogenic shock with left hemiparesis. Transesophageal echocardiography, which represents an essential imaging tool in the emergency room, ruled out aortic dissection involving branch vessels but did not allow an in vivo diagnosis of spontaneous coronary dissection. The in vivo diagnosis of spontaneous coronary dissection is rather difficult because of the dramatic clinical presentation and selective coronary angiography requirement.

Recurrence of idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis in a young adult patient after bilateral single-lung transplantation.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH) is a rare disease of unknown etiology characterized by hemoptysis, diffuse pulmonary infiltration, and anemia. Diagnosis requires a detailed clinical history and transbronchial lung biopsy (TLB).

Methods And Results: A 19-year-old man developed progressive dyspnea, hemoptysis, and anemia.