Histopathology in HCM

[first paragraph of article] Histopathology in patients with HCM is characterized by disarray of the overall architecture of the hypertrophied myocytes, which appear branched and may be intermingled with a variable amount of interstitial fibrosis . These changes may be patched and must be distinguished from the non-specific physiological disarrangement of the junctional area of the septum and the apex. The myocardial cell diameter is another important indicator of hypertrophy. Under normal conditions it ranges from 5–12  μ m in diameter. Anything up to 20  μ m may be indicative of mild hypertrophy.  In moderate hypertrophy cardiocyte diameter is up to 25 μm and moderate to severe hypertrophy is usually between 25-30 μm. For diameters greater than 30 μm severe hypertrophy must be suspected.