Cardiac (endomyocardial) biopsy
Last updated: Wednesday, 08, August, 2007
| Item | Process |
|---|---|
| Specimen | Endomyocardial biopsies are usually taken from the right ventricle. Four to six tissue fragments should be submitted. |
| Method | Specimen submitted in 10% formal saline. In acute cardiac rejection frozen section may be contemplated although rapid paraffin processing is preferable. |
| Application | Assessment of allograft rejection with biopsies taken according to a standard protocol. Also utilized in diagnostic investigation of cardiomyopathy, myocarditis and cariac amyloid. |
| Interpretation | Procedure often limited to specialist centres. Consult with pathologist prior to biopsy procedure. |
| Reference | Silver MD, Gotlieb AI, Schoen FJ. Cardiovascular Pathology. Third Edition. Churchill Livingstone, 2001. |