Examination of the cardiac conduction system: forensic application in cases of sudden cardiac death

Forensic pathologists may occasionally encounter cases of apparent sudden cardiac death without gross cardiac abnormality. In some of these cases, evaluation of the cardiac conduction system may reveal pathologic lesions which may act as the substrates for ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden death. Sample case studies are used to illustrate the suggested criteria and techniques for examination, and commonly-encountered pathologic lesions and normal variants are discussed.