Blow-Out Cardiac Rupture Caused by Takotsubo Syndrome: An Autopsy Case Report

Tomoaki Nagao; Shinya Fujita; Atsushi Sakamoto; Eri Kataoka; Rika Kawakami; Hayato Ohtani; Hiroki Mori; Masahiro Muto; Yuichiro Maekawa

doi:10.1016/j.jaccas.2025.105763

Blow-Out Cardiac Rupture Caused by Takotsubo Syndrome: An Autopsy Case Report

JACC Case Rep. 2025 Nov 26;30(38):105763. doi: 10.1016/j.jaccas.2025.105763.

Authors

Tomoaki Nagao¹, Shinya Fujita¹, Atsushi Sakamoto², Eri Kataoka³, Rika Kawakami⁴, Hayato Ohtani⁵, Hiroki Mori⁶, Masahiro Muto¹, Yuichiro Maekawa⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Cardiology, Hamamatsu Medical Center, Hamamatsu, Japan.
² Division of Cardiology, Internal Medicine III, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan. Electronic address: asakamo@hama-med.ac.jp.
³ Division of Diagnostic Pathology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan.
⁴ CVPath Institute, Inc, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA.
⁵ Division of Cardiology, Internal Medicine III, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan.
⁶ Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Hamamatsu Medical Center, Hamamatsu, Japan.

Abstract

Background: Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is generally considered a benign condition characterized by transient left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. However, a subset of patients may develop life-threatening complications such as blow-out cardiac rupture.

Case summary: A 79-year-old woman presented with chest discomfort following a fall and was found to have ST-segment elevation, elevated cardiac biomarkers, and apical akinesis with basal hyperkinesis on echocardiography. Coronary angiography revealed no obstructive lesions, confirming the diagnosis of TTS. Despite stable hemodynamics, she suffered sudden cardiac arrest on day 4. Autopsy revealed LV apical rupture with transmural myocyte loss, contraction band necrosis, interstitial edema, and macrophage infiltration, while the basal segments appeared histologically intact.

Discussion: This case underscores the importance of recognizing high-risk features-such as advanced age, female sex, and persistent ST elevation-for early recognition of TTS patients vulnerable to cardiac rupture. Autopsy-based pathological evaluation continues to provide valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of TTS.

Keywords: Takotsubo syndrome; autopsy; cardiac rupture; histopathology.

Publication types

Case Reports