title: Sudden Death Due to Giant Cell Myocarditis: A Case Report.
abstract: The definition of sudden death is variable and there has been no single all-purpose definition. Sudden death can be defined as sudden or unexpected death in an otherwise healthy individual who is not known to have been suffering from any dangerous disease, injury or poisoning and is found dead or dies within 24 hours after the onset of terminal illness. Some authorities limit the duration to 1 hour. Because of the sudden and unexpected nature of death, inquest is conducted in such cases to rule out foul play and ascertain the cause of death. A vast majority of cases are due to cardiac origin followed by respiratory, neurological, gastrointestinal and genitourinary causes. The most common cardiac disease to cause sudden death is ischemic heart disease as a result of coronary atherosclerosis. Coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies and electrophysiologic abnormalities are the common causes of sudden cardiac deaths. We present a rare case of sudden death in a healthy adult male due to giant cell myocarditis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Janani
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shanmugam
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Paranthaman Sampath
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Transfusion Medicine, Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Vinod Kumar
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Panicker
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Prathiba
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Duvooru
keywords: Autopsy; Giant cell myocarditis; Sudden cardiac death