Myocardial Fat: Physiological or Pathological? A Case Report

The presence of myocardial fat is not a finding that is infrequent during postmortem examinations. The case under discussion showed an extensive amount of fat, markedly on the right and mildly on the left ventricles. The differentiation of physiological fat from pathological entities is essential. In this case, two entities were initially suspected namely Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy/Dysplasia and excessive physiological fat deposition of the heart. A 66-year-old averagely build, a mentally subnormal, previously healthy female was found dead after a nonspecific, mild, general ill-health. Trauma and the possibility of poisoning were excluded. The cause of death was concluded as coronary artery disease with further investigations. The incidental finding of an excessive amount of fat as seen in this case warrants explanations and future research in Sri Lanka.