Faculty Bibliography

Cardiac papillary fibroelastoma is a rare primary cardiac tumor that usually involves the heart valves. Multiple fibroelastomas found in a single patient is an even more rare occurrence. We describe the case of a 41-year-old woman who presented with an acute cerebrovascular accident, and was found to have 4 separate fibroelastoma tumors involving the aortic and mitral valves. The role of echocardiography in the diagnosis of this unusual tumor and its therapy is discussed.

An unusual form of fatal child abuse is reported in which investigations by the police and the medical examiner were able to distinguish blunt force head trauma followed by postmortem dismemberment from a fatal dog attack. A discussion of the approaches used to ascertain the correct diagnosis is presented, as well as an overview of dog attacks on humans.

Intraaortic balloon counterpulsation is currently the most widely used mechanical technique for temporary support of the circulation. We report a rare fatal case of perforation of the right common iliac artery during percutaneous insertion of an IABP.

A case of sudden death due to massive myocardial sarcoidosis is presented. Cardiac sarcoidosis is discussed. Since the deceased was a New York City police officer with death benefit entitlements under the Heart Bill, the implications of the medicolegal autopsy are emphasized.

Cardiac concussion, previously known as commotio cordis, occurs in structurally normal hearts without gross or microscopic injury to the myocardium, cardiac valves, or coronary arteries, as opposed to other sports-related deaths known to occur more frequently in structural or congenital heart disease. We describe the sudden cardiac death of a 2-year-old child, who died as a result of a blunt force impact to the chest. A thorough medicolegal investigation was necessary to determine that the child died as a result of foul play.

Infectious mononucleosis (IM) is a disease traditionally defined by a triad of clinical, laboratory, and serologic factors. It is typically a benign, self-limited disease of children and young adults. Upper airway obstruction is a rare but potentially fatal complication of IM resulting from massive tonsillar enlargement, pharyngeal edema, or both. We report a case of sudden death due to airway obstruction in IM.