08-11-2011, 08:05 AM
A 25-year-old man dies suddenly and unexpectedly while at a Beverly Hills (or Kings Cross, or Soho...) nightclub late one evening. The medical examiner performs an autopsy. There is no evidence for trauma on external examination of the body. There are no gross pathologic findings of internal organs. Postmortem toxicologic findings are significant for high blood levels of cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine. Which of the following is the most likely histopathologic finding involving his heart?
A Contraction band necrosis
B Myocarditis
C Myofiber disarray
D Coronary thrombosis
E Pericardial tamponade
A Contraction band necrosis
B Myocarditis
C Myofiber disarray
D Coronary thrombosis
E Pericardial tamponade