ABPath Cardiovascular System Pathology 3

Question 1

Concentric left ventricular hypertrophy without dilation is most typical of which cardiomyopathy pattern?

Accepted Answer

Hypertensive/pressure-overload hypertrophy

Answer

Pressure overload (e.g., hypertension, aortic stenosis) causes concentric hypertrophy with parallel sarcomere addition.

Question 2

Myofiber disarray on histology is the hallmark of which condition?

Accepted Answer

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Answer

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy shows haphazard myofiber and myofibril disarray, often with sarcomeric gene mutations.

Question 3

Apple-green birefringence under polarized light after Congo red staining indicates deposition of what?

Accepted Answer

Amyloid

Answer

Amyloid shows apple-green birefringence with Congo red and causes restrictive cardiomyopathy.

Question 4

Which infectious agent is classically associated with dilated cardiomyopathy in South America?

Accepted Answer

Trypanosoma cruzi

Answer

Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi) is a leading cause of dilated cardiomyopathy in endemic regions.

Question 5

Fibrofatty replacement of the right ventricular myocardium is characteristic of which disorder?

Accepted Answer

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy

Answer

ARVC features fibrofatty replacement of RV myocardium, predisposing to arrhythmias and sudden death.

American Board of Pathology (ABPath) Practice Test