[Sudden death of cardiac origin in childhood and adolescence]

In the autopsy material performed by our institute during the years 1979-1988, in the age group under 18 years (total 680 cases) 57 cases of sudden cardiac death (8%) were found. 49.1% of them were due to congenital heart malformations, 38.6% were due to myocarditis. The age distribution, the male:female--ratio and the conditions of occurrence showed significant differences. At heart malformation, the death frequently was due to ischemic damage of the myocardium. For the examination of sudden death cases as a main purpose of forensic medicine, general pathologic biopsy-diagnostic regimen did not seem to be fully apted. This is a challenge for establishing an international comparable general accepted nomenclature and methodology, that suits to this purpose.