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Echocardiographic and Histological Examination of Cardiac Morphology in the Mouse
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Echocardiographic and Histological Examination of Cardiac Morphology in the Mouse

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Cardiac hypertrophy at autopsy

Cristina Basso1, Katarzyna Michaud2, Giulia d'Amati3

  • 1Cardiovascular Pathology Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy. cristina.basso@unipd.it.

Virchows Archiv : an International Journal of Pathology
|March 19, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Standardized methods are crucial for assessing cardiac hypertrophy during autopsy. This involves uniform terminology, measurements, and reference values for accurate diagnosis and understanding its role in sudden cardiac death.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Pathology
  • Forensic Pathology

Background:

  • Cardiac hypertrophy is a significant factor in autopsy findings and mortality.
  • Current autopsy practices lack uniform terminology and methodology for assessing cardiac hypertrophy.
  • Standardized diagnostic criteria are essential for accurate interpretation of heart pathology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish unified recommendations for the assessment of cardiac hypertrophy in autopsies.
  • To define standardized terminology, measurement techniques, and reference values for heart weight, size, and thickness.
  • To guide the diagnostic workup for various causes of cardiac hypertrophy, including overload conditions and cardiomyopathies.

Main Methods:

  • Development of consensus-based recommendations by the Association for European Cardiovascular Pathology.
  • Emphasis on systematic gross morphologic examination of the heart.
  • Integration of histologic analysis, immunostaining, and transmission electron microscopy for definitive diagnosis.
  • Recommendations for seeking expert consultation and utilizing postmortem genetic testing.

Main Results:

  • Proposed standardized terminology and methodology for measuring heart weight, size, and thickness.
  • Defined age, gender, and body size-specific cutoff values for normality.
  • Outlined a diagnostic pathway for identifying causes of cardiac hypertrophy.
  • Highlighted the importance of expert second opinions and advanced diagnostic techniques.

Conclusions:

  • Standardized assessment of cardiac hypertrophy is vital for accurate autopsy interpretation and understanding its role in mortality.
  • The recommendations provide a framework for consistent diagnosis across different pathology services.
  • Multidisciplinary approaches, including genetic testing, enhance the evaluation of sudden cardiac death cases involving cardiac hypertrophy.

Keywords:
AutopsyCardiovascular diseasesDiagnostic criteriaHypertrophyQuality in pathology

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