title: Endomyocardial biopsy: its diagnostic usefulness.
abstract: In order to assess the diagnostic usefulness of EMB in patients with clinically suspected myocardial diseases, with and without heart failure or dysrhythmias, a prospective study was carried out in 84 consecutive patients. With EMB, the histological diagnosis was considered specific in 33 patients (39.3%), confirmative in 12 patients (14.3%) and negative in 39 patients (46.4%). It was found particularly useful in patients with unexplained heart failure and idiopathic dysrhythmias and in the differentiation between restrictive cardiomyopathy and constrictive pericarditis. The procedure can be safely performed with minimal morbidity and there was no mortality in the present study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Siriraj Cardiac Center, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thongtang
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ratanarapee
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chaithiraphan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Panchavinnin
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Srivanasont
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jootar
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sahasakul
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Charoenchob
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D002313:Cardiomyopathy, Restrictive / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004699:Endocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies