A Post Mortem Case Study: Diffuse Pulmonary Ossification and Sudden Death

Abstract

A post mortem examination was performed on a 45 year old white male who died suddenly during a competitive athletic swimming event. There were few clinical events seen in the year before his death. Clinical workup was negative and lung scan showed a small coin lesion was attributed to focal bacterial/fungal infection. Antibiotic treatment appeared to clear this condition on another follow up scan and he was sent home with an inhaler. On gross post mortem examination the lungs revealed diffuse pulmonary congestion, focal hemorrhage and edema. Small focal white areas of calcified lesions were also seen. In addition, an enlarged heart with left ventricular hypertrophy and thickened interventricular septum were seen. There was moderate atherosclerosis midway down the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery observed. Histologic examination of lung tissue proved confirmatory for diffuse pulmonary ossification. Heart microscopic examination was consistent with cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. In conclusion, the diffuse pulmonary ossification was probably related to the sudden death with concomitant myocardial hypertrophy.