ABSTRACT

Cardiomyopathy is a group of myocardial muscle disease of unknown origin. Primary ones consist of dilated, hypertrop-hic, obliterative and ARVC subgroups. The aim of this study is to describe macroscopic and microscopic features of this pat-hologic entity that is a rare cause of death among young adult population.

Eleven cases of cardiomyopathy were detected in autopsy population of the Council of Forensic Medicine between 2003 and 2006. Of these cases, 5 were male and 6 were female and age range was 15-35. After histopathologic examination of these cardiomyopathy cases, seven were detected to be hypertrop-hic, three dilated and one restrictive cardiomyopathy resulting from amyloid accumulation. No toxic substances were detec-ted on routine toxicological analysis. The cause of death in the-se 11 sudden death cases was reported to be cardiac death resul-ting from cardiomyopathy.

In order to support the legal investigation process in sudden deaths, it is crucial to establish the cause of death. Detailed mac-roscopic and microscopic examination of heart must be perfor-med in order to detect cardiomyopathies during investigating the sudden death of young adults,

Keywords: Autopsy, cardiac sudden death, cardiomyopathy