Recurrent ventricular tachycardia associated with lipomatous metaplasia of a myocardial scar

BMJ Case Rep. 2021 Mar 19;14(3):e240626. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2020-240626.

Abstract

Lipomatous metaplasia in chronic postmyocardial infarction scars is a common and underappreciated finding seen in histopathology and cardiac MRI. Evidence suggests that lipomatous metaplasia is capable of altering the electroconductivity of the myocardium leading to re-entry pathways that are implicated in the pathogenesis of postmyocardial infarction arrhythmogenesis. We report a case of a patient who presented with non-sustained ventricular tachycardia and was found to have lipomatous metaplasia of a prior myocardial infarct-related scar.

Keywords: arrhythmias; cardiovascular medicine; interventional cardiology; ischaemic heart disease; valvar diseases.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cicatrix / complications
  • Cicatrix / pathology
  • Humans
  • Metaplasia / pathology
  • Myocardial Infarction* / complications
  • Myocardial Infarction* / pathology
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular* / etiology
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular* / pathology