Thanatology: sudden cardiac death in a young athlete: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Forensic Medicine · Thanatology: sudden cardiac death in a young athlete

Sample item

A 19-year-old athlete collapses and dies during training. Autopsy shows a heavy heart with asymmetric thickening of the septum, and microscopy shows haphazardly arranged, disorganised myocytes. What is the diagnosis?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a leading cause of sudden death in young athletes and shows asymmetric septal thickening with myocyte disarray and fibrosis. Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy shows fatty and fibrous replacement of the right ventricle, while myocarditis shows an inflammatory infiltrate.

Option by option

  • A. Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy

    Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy shows fibrofatty replacement of the right ventricular wall.

  • B. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (correct)

    Correct. Septal thickening with myocyte disarray is characteristic.

  • C. Acute myocarditis

    Myocarditis shows inflammatory cells and myocyte necrosis, not disarray.

  • D. Dilated cardiomyopathy

    Dilated cardiomyopathy gives dilated chambers with thin or normal walls.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is B, Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a leading cause of sudden death in young athletes and shows asymmetric septal thickening with myocyte disarray and fibrosis.

Why is "Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy" not the answer?

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy shows fibrofatty replacement of the right ventricular wall.

Why is "Acute myocarditis" not the answer?

Myocarditis shows inflammatory cells and myocyte necrosis, not disarray.

Why is "Dilated cardiomyopathy" not the answer?

Dilated cardiomyopathy gives dilated chambers with thin or normal walls.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thanatology: sudden cardiac death in a young athlete in Forensic Medicine. Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy shows fatty and fibrous replacement of the right ventricle, while myocarditis shows an inflammatory infiltrate.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Thanatology: sudden cardiac death in a young athlete?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.