Professional
Technical
endomyocardial biopsy
Invasive procedure to obtain small samples of heart muscle tissue for microscopic examination.
Full Definition
A specialized cardiac catheterization procedure involving transcatheter sampling of myocardial tissue, typically from the right ventricular septum, for histopathological analysis. The procedure is performed using a bioptome advanced through venous access to obtain multiple small tissue samples. Indications include suspected myocarditis, infiltrative cardiomyopathies, cardiac transplant rejection surveillance, and unexplained cardiomyopathy. Pathological analysis includes routine histology, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy as needed.
Usage
Usage note: Specify location (right vs left ventricular) when relevant to interpretation.
In Context
- "Endomyocardial biopsy confirmed active lymphocytic myocarditis with myocyte necrosis." — Pathology report
- "Protocol endomyocardial biopsy showed no evidence of acute cellular rejection." — Transplant follow-up
Also known as
cardiac biopsy
myocardial biopsy
Don't confuse with
pericardial biopsy
epicardial biopsy