Histopathology Artifacts Quiz

 

ANSWER CASE 26

A common artefact of cardiac muscle is transverse fragmentation of myocardial fibres as shown in this micrograph. The artefact is not seen in every heart sectioned, nor is it seen in endomyocardial biopsies. Even in those cases where it is present there is significant variation in the degree of fragmentation from one area to another. There have been suggestions that it is the result of microtomy, but the artefact cannot be eliminated by repeated careful sectioning. So the actual cause of the artefact remains obscure. So the correct answer is myocardial fragmentation.




 
© Roy C. Ellis 2004