Cartilaginous Metaplasia Involving the Atrioventricular Node and Bundle of His Contributing to Sudden Early Neonatal Death. (August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Szymanski, Linda J; Ernst, Linda M
• Is Part Of: Pediatric and developmental pathology. Volume 23:Number 4(2020)
• Page Start: 312
• Page End: 316
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Subjects: sudden intrauterine and infant death -- neonatal -- cartilaginous metaplasia -- cardiac conduction anomaly -- autopsy -- atrioventricular node; Pediatric pathology -- Periodicals; Children -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Diagnosis, Laboratory -- Periodicals; Abnormalities, Human -- Periodicals; Child development -- Periodicals; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; 616.07
• DOI: 10.1177/1093526619892352
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1093-5266

Abstract

Cartilaginous metaplasia involving the atrioventricular (AV) node is an uncommon entity that may cause sudden cardiac death secondary to dysrhythmias. We report 2 autopsy cases of full-term male newborns: 1 stillborn and 1 live-born, with antemortem bradycardia who died in the peripartum period. An examination of the cardiac conduction system in both cases demonstrated extensive cartilaginous metaplasia of the central fibrous body and involvement of the AV node and bundle of His. The cases highlight the recognition of cardiac conduction system anomalies as a cause of sudden perinatal death. In cases of perinatal death with preceding arrhythmia, postmortem sections of the cardiac conduction system are recommended to examine for cardiac conduction system anomaly.