title: Irregular connexin43 expressed in a rare cardiac hamartoma containing adipose tissue in the crista terminalis.
abstract: Cardiac hamartomas are very rare and are demarcated masses of enlarged, hypertrophied, mature myocytes and collagen tissue. Cardiac hamartomas are generally circumscribed in the right ventricle or atrium, but not reported in the crista terminalis (CRT). The CRT is crucial in electrophysiology, is related to arrhythmogenesis, and is targeted by radiofrequency catheter procedures. Previous works only described the benign natures of prominent CRT using non-invasive methods. This study describes an unusual cardiac hamartoma originating from the CRT and extending toward the tricuspid valve. Microscopically, this hamartoma comprised dense collagen and adipose tissue, mixed with hypertrophy, but with disarrayed cardiomyocytes. An irregular gap junction, connexin43, was demonstrated in this cardiac hamartoma.
authors.affiliation: The First Cardiovascular Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, 199 Tun-Hwa North Road, 105 Taipei, Taiwan. pchu@adm.cgmh.org.tw
authors.forename: Pao-Hsien
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Hung-I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Shih-Ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Li-Ying
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: Nai-Feng
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Hsueh-Hua
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jaw-Ji
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Chuen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hsueh
authors.forename: Ying-Shiung
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D000368:Aged; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006222:Hamartoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal
chemical_list: D018031:Connexin 43