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Pericardial Cyst: Cause of Sudden Cardiac Death?

Marie Brix Ley1, Maiken Kudahl Larsen1

  • 1Department of Forensic Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Blvd. 99, 8200, Aarhus, Denmark.

Journal of Forensic Sciences
|May 22, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Sudden cardiac death is a global health crisis. This case highlights a rare posterior mediastinal pericardial cyst as a potential, though unusual, cause of sudden death, even in asymptomatic individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pathology
  • Forensic Medicine

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease is the primary cause of global sudden death.
  • Sudden cardiac death etiology encompasses diverse conditions, with pericardial cysts rarely implicated.
  • Pericardial cysts are typically benign, asymptomatic mediastinal masses.

Observation:

  • A 63-year-old woman presented with dyspnea and hoarseness.
  • The patient experienced sudden death during a computed tomography (CT) scan attempt.
  • A post-mortem examination was conducted for forensic and histologic analysis.

Findings:

  • Forensic and histologic examination identified a pericardial cyst in the posterior mediastinum.
  • Toxicology and biochemistry tests, including tryptase levels, were negative for other causes of death.
  • No competing causes for the sudden death were identified.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the importance of considering rare pathologies, such as posterior mediastinal pericardial cysts, in the differential diagnosis of sudden cardiac death.
  • Even asymptomatic pericardial cysts may pose a risk in specific circumstances.
  • Further investigation into the potential mechanisms linking pericardial cysts to sudden death may be warranted.

Keywords:
cardiac deathcomputed tomography (CT)forensic pathologyforensic sciencepericardial cystsudden death

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