cardiac sarcoidosis
Infiltrative cardiomyopathy caused by non-caseating granulomatous inflammation affecting the myocardium as part of systemic sarcoidosis.
Full Definition
Cardiac sarcoidosis involves the heart in approximately 5% of patients with systemic sarcoidosis, though subclinical involvement may be more common. The pathological hallmark is non-caseating epithelioid granulomas within the myocardium, often with multinucleated giant cells. The inflammatory process can affect any part of the heart but commonly involves the left ventricular free wall and interventricular septum. Chronic inflammation may lead to fibrosis, conduction abnormalities, and ventricular arrhythmias. The diagnosis requires correlation with systemic disease and exclusion of other granulomatous conditions.
Usage
Usage note: Requires special stains to exclude infectious granulomas.
In Context
- "Endomyocardial biopsy revealed non-caseating granulomas diagnostic of cardiac sarcoidosis." — biopsy report
- "The autopsy demonstrated extensive cardiac sarcoidosis with granulomatous infiltration of the interventricular septum." — autopsy report