Complete Cardiac Rupture Associated with Closed Chest Cardiac Massage: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Chest skeletal injuries are the most frequent complications of external chest massage (ECM) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but heart and great vessels lacerations that are indeed very rare. We report the case of a 35‐year‐old workman who collapsed and underwent ECM by his co‐workers for almost 30 min. At autopsy, no external injuries, fractures or bruises of the ribs or sternum, were observed. A hemopericardium with a rupture of the heart was found, with no signs of pre‐existent cardiac disease. Bruises of thoracic aortic wall, lung petechiae, a contusion of the liver, and bruises of lumbar muscles were found. The cause of death was due to sudden cardiac death with an extensive cardiac rupture. This is an unusual report of massive heart damage without any skeletal or muscle chest injuries, secondary to cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This kind of cardiac lesions may be considered when thoracic–abdominal trauma, or medical history, is unclear.     

Left Ventricular Aneurysm: Sudden Unexpected Deaths in a 29‐Year‐Old Man

Left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) is an abnormal dilated heart structure, either congenital or acquired. LVA is a rare cardiac condition with no symptoms in most cases, thus occasionally diagnosed during investigations of other diseases. Its association with certain cardiac complications and sudden cardiac deaths has been reported. However, its role as a cause of sudden unexpected death is rare. The author reported a sudden cardiac death in a 29‐year‐old man with LVA. Without a significant coronary artery disease and known etiologies of LVA, such an abnormal heart structure in the present case was considered congenital LVA. As no other possible mechanisms of death could be identified other than LVA with its associated pathologic lesions, mural thrombi, and dilated cardiomegaly, his death was attributable to fatal cardiac arrhythmia (most commonly ventricular tachycardia) secondary to LVA.     

Inferior Vena Cava Tumor Thrombosis Secondary to Metastatic Uterine Cancer: A Rare Cause of Sudden Unexpected Death

Pulmonary tumor thromboembolus (PTTE) secondary to uterine cancer is a rare cause of sudden unexpected deaths in the elderly population. Additionally, tumor extension to the inferior vena cava (IVC) makes it rarer. No such cases have been previously reported in the forensic literature. We report this phenomenon in a previously healthy 70‐year‐old woman with no other known risk factors for the development of deep vein thrombosis. The deceased was found dead while watching television with her relatives. Autopsy examination revealed that her death was attributed to a saddle embolus lodged in the main pulmonary arteries. A uterine tumor was discovered, and microscopic examination revealed low‐grade endometrial stromal sarcoma with angiolymphatic invasion. The tumor cells were also found in the embolus and the remnant thrombosis attached to the inner wall of the IVC. This case demonstrates a sudden unexpected death caused by acute PTTE following seeding of uterine cancer into the IVC and raises awareness of such events.     

KCNE、KCNQ1与心性猝死的相关性研究进展

部分心性猝死由于缺乏明确的病理学改变,其鉴定工作一直是法医工作者的一大难题。近年来,与长QT综合征、心房颤动等致死性心律失常疾病相关基因（KCNE基因家族与KCNQl）等研究逐渐增多。国内外研究发现KCNE和KCNQ1基因编码心肌钾离子通道,其基因异常可引起严重的心律失常,甚至导致心性猝死。因此,死后KCNE和KCNQl的基因检测对于心性猝死鉴定具有重要意义。本文对KCNE、KCNQl与心性猝死的相关性研究进展进行综述,希望能为法医学研究和实践提供参考。     

Sudden Death Due to Infiltration of Left Bundle Branches by Interventricular Septal Cardiac Fibroma

Cardiac fibromas are benign conditions; however, their location and size may cause ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. We report a case of a 68‐year‐old female who died suddenly. Postmortem investigation detected a huge cardiac fibroma in the pars muscularis of the interventricular septum, occupying almost the entire muscular septum, and restricting the volume of left ventricular chamber. Histological examination revealed numerous foci of calcification in the alternating complex interlacing or strictly parallel collagenous fiber mass. Tumor mass was mainly demarcated, but in some places, fibrous infiltration of surrounding working cardiac muscle was found. We present a case when direct tumor involvement in the descending left bundle branches was evidenced. Mainly, the branches of septal fascicle were disrupted, entrapped, and degenerated by the tumor mass. This case report emphasizes that postmortem histological examination of conduction system in all sudden cardiac death cases may substantially improve the accuracy of postmortem diagnosis.     

Influenza A/H1N1 (2009) Infection as a Cause of Unexpected Out‐of‐Hospital Death in the Young*

Abstract: In March 2009, a new strain of influenza A/H1N1 virus was identified in Mexico, responsible for a pandemic. Worldwide, more than 13,500 patients died, most often from acute respiratory distress syndrome. Because sudden death cases were rare, involving mostly young apparently healthy persons, influenza A/H1N1 (2009)‐related deaths may be misdiagnosed, which can raise medico‐legal issues. Case history: we report on an unexpected out‐of‐hospital death involving a young male with no past medical history and no vaccination. Fever was his only symptom. Laboratory tests: histology showed patchy necrotic foci with mononuclear inflammation in the lungs. The heart was histologically normal, but virological analyses using molecular biology on frozen myocardial samples showed high virus load. In conclusion, this case report shows that influenza A/H1N1 (2009) virus can be a cause of sudden cardiac death in the young and demonstrates the importance of quantitative virological analyses for the diagnosis of myocarditis.     

A Case of Sudden Infant Death Due to Incomplete Kawasaki Disease

Although Kawasaki disease (KD) is a self‐limiting disease, it may cause sudden cardiac death. Diagnosis of KD is principally based on clinical signs; however, some infant cases do not meet the criteria. Such cases are identified as incomplete KD. The sudden death risk in incomplete KD cases is similar to conventional KD. In our 5‐month‐old case, he had been admitted to a hospital for a fever and suppuration at the site of Bacille de Calmette et Guerin (BCG) vaccination. However, after discharge from the hospital, his C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels declined, he got indisposed and died suddenly. A medico‐legal autopsy revealed myocarditis, coronaritis, platelet‐aggregated emboli in coronary arteries, and myocardial degeneration, suggesting that the fatal myocardial infarction was due to thrombus emboli in the coronary arteries. Forensic pathologists therefore should pay attention to the cardiac pathology originated from incomplete KD as a potential cause in cases of sudden infant death.     

RyR2相关心脏性猝死的研究进展

雷诺定受体2(ryanodine receptor 2,RyR2)是心肌细胞肌浆网上主要的钙释放通道,主要参与心肌的兴奋收缩耦联过程,其基因突变及调控异常可导致心肌舒张期钙漏引起心律失常,甚至猝死。本文重点综述RyR2基因突变及调控异常引起心脏性猝死的机制,并对以后的研究提出建议,旨在为心脏性猝死的法医学诊断提供一种新的思路。     

TGF-β1在SCN5A基因变异所致心源性猝死中调控作用

SCN5A基因变异所致心源性猝死发生机制尚不清楚。目前研究显示TGF-β1介导心肌纤维化以及离子通道重构调节机制的异常可能是SCN5A基因变异导致SUNDS发生的主要原因。本文就转化生长因子β1对SCN5A基因变异所致心源性猝死调控的影响机制研究进展进行综述,以期为心源性猝死法医学研究和实践提供参考。     

An autopsy case of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) and its immunohistochemical findings of muscle-associated proteins and mitochondria

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a rare but potentially fatal disorder. In forensic cases, post-mortem diagnosis of NMS is sometimes difficult if ante-mortem information, such as neuroleptic ingestion or signs and symptoms, cannot be obtained. A 39-year-old Japanese male on a neuroleptic treatment regimen suddenly became agitated and died. Autopsy revealed muscle rigidity and hyperthermia. Post-mortem examination of blood revealed elevation of creatine phosphokinase-MM (CK-MM) and lactate dehydrogenase-4 and dehydrogenase-5 (LDH-4 and LDH-5). In renal glomeruli and tubules, myoglobin was stained immunohistochemically. From these findings, the cause of death was considered to be NMS. To support the diagnosis of NMS, both skeletal and cardiac muscles were stained with actin, myoglobin, desmin and mitochondria antibodies immunohistochemically. Actin, myoglobin, desmin, and mitochondria had been lost from skeletal, but not from the cardiac muscle, which suggested that only the skeletal muscle was damaged. Moreover, because mitochondria had disappeared only from the skeletal muscle, it was considered that skeletal muscle degeneration was caused by mitochondrial damage. Therefore, it is suggested that immunostaining of skeletal muscle by antibodies for muscle-associated proteins and mitochondria is useful to corroborate a diagnosis of NMS.     

Pericardial Cyst: Cause of Sudden Cardiac Death?

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of sudden death in the world. The etiology of sudden cardiac death involves a wide range of diseases, but seldom pericardial cysts. A pericardial cyst is an uncommon cyst usually located in the middle mediastinum and rarely in the posterior part. They are usually harmless and asymptomatic. Here, we present a case of a 63‐year‐old woman who presented with dyspnea and hoarseness, but died suddenly after a CT scan was attempted. The detailed forensic pathologic and histologic examination revealed a pericardial cyst located in the posterior mediastinum. Toxicology and biochemistry tests, including tryptase, found no competing cause of death.     

冠状动脉肌桥与心源性猝死

冠状动脉肌桥也称冠脉肌桥或心肌桥,是一种先天性冠状动脉分布走行的发育畸形,为冠状动脉某一段或其分支的某一段走行于心外膜下的心肌层内。这种先天性冠状动脉分布走行的发育畸形可以引起猝死,在尸体解剖中也较为常见。本文对冠脉肌桥的形态学特点、临床影像学与心电图改变、猝死机制以及法医学鉴定中需要注意的问题等方面进行了阐述。     

Cardiac rupture due to severe fatty infiltration in the right ventricular wall

An extremely rare case of sudden death caused by cardiac rupture due to severe fatty infiltration in the right ventricular myocardium is presented. The patient, a 74-year-old woman, had no history of chest trauma, hypertension, or pulmonary disease. The autopsy showed a small tear in the right ventricle and cardiac tamponade, but no coronary artery lesion. In the right ventricular myocardium, muscle fibers were definitely atrophic or absent, with massive fatty replacement. Fatty infiltration of the myocardium, if severe, can be a cause of serious cardiac dysfunction or, occasionally, sudden death.     

Cardiac rhabdomyoma presenting as sudden infant death syndrome

A case of cardiac rhabdomyoma presenting as sudden infant death in a four-and-one-half month-old infant is reported. The child was the product of an essentially uncomplicated pregnancy and enjoyed good health before his unexpected, sudden death. Autopsy examination revealed the presence of multiple cardiac lesions which histologically were diagnosed as rhabdomyomas. Death was attributed to fatal cardiac arrhythmia caused by the tumor. To the authors' knowledge this represents the first reported case in the forensic science literature of death as a result of cardiac rhabdomyoma presenting as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).     

Cardiac concussion: definition, differential diagnosis, and cases presentation and the legal ramification of a misdiagnosis

A cardiac concussion is caused by a sudden, nonpenetrating, localized impact to the chest that is theorized to result in almost simultaneous sudden death from a disruption to the conductive system. The detailed external/internal forensic examination of the body reveals no evidence of structural, pathologic, or histologic signs of trauma to the heart. A cardiac concussion is a rare and often overlooked cause of sudden death. This type of sudden death is typically seen among younger individuals participating in sports involving projectiles and, to a lesser degree, where collisions occur. Cardiac concussions are clinically, pathologically, and chemically different from a cardiac contusion. The objective of this paper will be to define cardiac concussion, differentiate between cardiac concussion and cardiac contusion, and describe the clinical and pathologic features of a 32-year-old white male who died of a cardiac concussion following a collision with a catcher during a softball game. The civil ramification of incorrectly diagnosing the manner of death in cases of death involving a cardiac concussion will also be addressed.     

Commotio Cordis – A Report of Two Similar Cases

Commotio cordis is a rare and fatal mechano‐electric arrhythmogenic syndrome, occurring mainly during sports activities. The present study describes two similar cases of sudden death caused by commotio cordis associated with homicide. The two decedents were both 15‐year‐old male teenagers. Both collapsed within several minutes after being punched in the precordial region, as observed by witnesses at the scenes. Although electrocardiograms were not recorded at the scenes or the hospitals, the sudden onset of cardiovascular, respiratory, and neural symptoms were consistent with sudden cardiac death caused by commotio cordis. Autopsy and forensic morphology both revealed no cardiac or pericardiac structural damage, evident lesions of other internal organs, or underlying diseases, along with negative toxicological analysis, conforming to criteria for diagnosis of commotio cordis. The diagnosis of commotio cordis by forensic pathologists is important in deliberating a verdict of homicide, especially involuntary homicide. In rare instances, a death caused by commotio cordis may have a homicide manner of death.     

大鼠死后心肌骨骼肌细胞肌动蛋白变化及与死亡时间的关系

目的　探讨大鼠死后心肌骨骼肌细胞肌动蛋白的变化及其与死亡时间的关系。方法　采用免疫组化S P法和IBSA图像分析系统 ,观测大鼠死后不同时间心肌骨骼肌抗肌动蛋白单克隆抗体 (HHF3 5 )染色变化。结果　在大鼠死后 5 4h内 ,心肌骨骼肌呈不同程度的HHF3 5缺染 ,其面积随死后时间的延长而增大。经对IBSA图像分析数据进行方差分析 (F心肌 =5 88 2 7,F骨骼肌 =3 5 1 2 5 ,P <0 0 5 ) ,具有显著性差异 ;经逐步回归分析 (r心肌 =0 943 ,r骨骼肌 =0 95 8,P <0 0 5 ) ,具有正相关关系。所建方程y心肌 =-3 0 5 68+1 0 0 3x1,y骨骼肌 =-2 4 897+0 986x2 (X为HHF3 5缺染面积均数 )具有统计学意义。结论　在一定时间内 ,大鼠死后不同时间心肌骨骼肌细胞HHF3 5缺染面积 ,随死后时间的延长而增大。     

Marfan综合征研究进展

Marfan综合征是一种潜在的致命性结缔组织疾病,呈显性遗传,人群发病率约2～3人/万,主要累及骨、心血管及眼组织。遗传学检查证实系编码微纤维蛋白-1(fibrillin-1)的基因(FBN1)突变所致。部分病例除有骨骼、眼和心血管系统的病理改变外,还有不同程度的皮肤、被膜、肺及肌组织的改变。部分病例由于伴有严重的心血管系统改变而发生猝死。     

Sudden Death Secondary to an Undiagnosed B‐Cell Lymphoma of the Hypopharynx and Infiltration of the Inferior Constrictor Muscle

The aim of this presentation was to share an uncommon form of sudden death, suffered by a 64‐year‐old woman, due to a mechanical obstruction of hypopharynx by an undiagnosed B‐cell lymphoma, infiltrating the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle. A forensic approach by means of scene investigation, circumstantial data collection, autopsy, and histological and toxicological investigations led to conclude that the cause of death was asphyxia, correlated with B‐cell lymphoma of the hypopharynx. The autopsy examination highlighted the presence of a wall thickening, infiltrating, and projecting into the hypopharynx lumen. The histological analysis showed the essential finding of a B‐cell lymphoma of the hypopharynx, diffusely infiltrating the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle. To conclude, this case demonstrates once more that in the absence of specific data, a thorough forensic investigation including autopsy, histological examination, and circumstantial data collection is mandatory to reach a correct cause of death.     

Death Due to Coronary Artery Insufficiency Following Blunt Trauma to the Chest

There have been numerous reports of sudden cardiac death following blunt trauma to the chest, but there is lack of such references in forensic literature. It is the court of law which makes decision about trauma precipitating natural events. The forensic pathologist is scientifically trained in the medical field and would be in a better position to give clear picture about the victim's general status at the time of death, exact nature and severity of the illness he is suffering from if any. He can also assess the nature and severity of injuries sustained, and thus, his opinion as to the possible role played by the traumatic event in bringing about the death is valuable. This paper will discuss the mechanism of cardiac injury or possible cardiac injury and sudden death of an apparently healthy 36‐year‐old male following blunt chest trauma sustained during alleged assault by his neighbor.