title: Fat embolism to the cardiac conduction system associated with sudden death.
abstract: During a brief hospital stay, a patient under treatment with corticosteroids for lymphoma died suddenly and unexpectedly. At autopsy, fat emboli were identified in the lungs, myocardium, liver, and brain. Examination of the cardiac conduction system revealed fat emboli in the vessels of the bundle of His as well as those accompanying the bundle branches, a finding believed to have resulted in the sudden death. This report is the first of fat embolization to the cardiac conduction system and emphasizes the importance of examination of this system in cases of unexplained or sudden death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Hahnemann University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Finkelstein
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Lumb
mesh_terms: D002036:Bundle of His / Q000473:pathology; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology*; D004620:Embolism, Fat / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D011241:Prednisone