title: Primary Cardiac Fibroma and Cardiac Conduction System Alterations in a Case of Sudden Death of a 4-month-old Infant.
abstract: A 4-month-old female infant considered to be in good health died suddenly and unexpectedly. Post- mortem examination was requested, with clinical diagnosis of sudden infant death syndrome. At autopsy the infant was described in good health. Histo- logical examination of the heart found a cardiac fibroma compressing the atrio-ventricular node and the examination of the cardiac conduction system showed an accessory fiber of Mahaim (nodo-ventricular) and cartilaginous metaplasia of the cardiac fibrous body. Probably the concomitant presence of cardiac conduction system abnormalities and a septal fibroma, compressing the atrio-ventricular node, could have an important role in causing the sudden death.
authors.affiliation: "Lino Rossi" Research Center for the study and prevention of the unexpected perinatal death and the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mecchia
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lavezzi
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Matturri
keywords: Primary cardiac fibroma; SIDS; cardiac conduction system.