Cardiac paraganglioma (chemodectoma): a case report and review of the literature.

A rare case of paraganglioma (chemodectoma) of the heart is reported. This is the fifth case reported in the world literature and only the second case discovered in a living person. A review of the historical background, embryology, anatomy, and pathology of the paraganglia is provided. The previously reported four cases are also discussed.

Disappearance of electrocardiographic pattern of inferior wall myocardial infarction after aorta-coronary bypass surgery.

Three cases are presented showing the disappearance of electrocardiographic (ECG) evidence of old inferior wall myocardial infarction (MI) after aorta-coronary bypass surgery. Evidence is presented to suggest that the loss of Q waves may be the result of reperfusion of the ischemic myocardium (two cases) and the "cancelling effect" of a new perioperative myocardial damage upon the ECG evidence of an old myocardial infarction (one case). Q waves do not always indicate permanent myocardial scar formation; they are sometimes transient and reversible. Review of the literature provides further experimental and clinical evidences to suggest that surgical reperfusion of peri-infarction ischemic myocardium is an explanation for the ECG change. Pre- and postoperative angiographic and ventriculographic correlations are needed to further clarify the mechanism and clinical significance of such cases.