Irregular connexin43 expressed in a rare cardiac hamartoma containing adipose tissue in the crista terminalis.
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.
Chu
Pao-Hsien
PH
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
Yeh
Hung-I
HI
Jung
Shih-Ming
SM
Chien
Li-Ying
LY
Cheng
Nai-Feng
NF
Wu
Hsueh-Hua
HH
Chu
Jaw-Ji
JJ
Hsueh
Chuen
C
Lee
Ying-Shiung
YS
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
D018031:Connexin 43