Endomyocardial biopsy--when and how?
1Division of Anatomical Pathology, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Ottawa Hospital,Civic Campus and the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. jpveinot@ottawahospital.on.ca
Abstract:
Endomyocardial biopsy is a commonly performed useful procedure utilized for the evaluation of cardiac tissue. Biopsy may be used to monitor transplant rejection, but it has many other applications including the evaluation of myocarditis, cardiomyopathy, chest pain, arrhythmia, and secondary involvement by systemic diseases. Drug toxicity may be evaluated and neoplasms may be biopsied. Recent developments include advances in myocardial and viral molecular biology and advances in image or electrophysiology guided biopsy. The utility of endomyocardial biopsy is reviewed with consideration of these advances.
