Bifid cardiac apex in a 25-year-old male with sudden cardiac death.
Although a bifid cardiac apex is common in certain marine animals, it is an uncommon finding in humans. When present, bifid cardiac apex is usually associated with other congenital heart anomalies. We present a case of bifid cardiac apex that was an incidental finding in a 25-year-old male with sudden cardiac death from combined drug toxicity. On gross examination, there was a bifid cardiac apex with a 2-cm long cleft. There were no other significant gross or microscopic abnormalities. This case represents the very rare occurrence of a bifid cardiac apex as an isolated cardiac anomaly.
Division of Anatomic Pathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UCLA Center for the Health Sciences 13-145, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1732, USA. Electronic address: anniewu@mednet.ucla.edu.
Annie
A
Wu
Deborah
D
Kay
Michael C
MC
Fishbein
D000328:Adult; D001344:Autopsy; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000150:complications*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008297:Male
Bifid cardiac apex; Sudden cardiac death