Sudden cardiac death and thymic hyperplasia in adults: myth or reality? A case report

Abstract

BackgroundSudden cardiac death is a major public health concern. The incidence of sudden cardiac death in young adults remains unclear and is generally underestimated.Case presentationThis is a case report of a 24-year-old man with a silent pathological history, who suddenly collapsed in a restaurant during dinner with his workmates. Autopsy and ancillary examination revealed focal atrioventricular node fibrosis and thymic hyperplasia.ConclusionsThymic hyperplasia has been considered a cause of sudden death in the past century. The mode of death was explained through nosographic entities such as status lymphaticus or thymic asthma, which are currently consigned to history books. Nevertheless, recent studies have sought to determine the relationship between thymic hyperplasia and sudden unexpected deaths in adults. Moreover, isolated fibrosis of the atrioventricular node is a rare condition that can remain undiagnosed even after a full autopsy. This report aims to provide a concise review of the existing literature concerning sudden cardiac death and discuss the so-called “thymic death” theory, which is now considered a myth. Was the finding of thymic hyperplasia and atrioventricular node fibrosis a coincidence? Should the myth surrounding “thymic death” be re-examined?