contraction band necrosis


con·trac·tion band

a microscopic change in myocardial cells in which excessive contraction, associated with elevated intracellular calcium and serum norepinephrine, causes the formation of transverse amorphous bands in the fibers which are then incapable of contracting again. Synonym(s): contraction band necrosis

contraction band necrosis

A nonspecific finding in irreversibly ischaemic myocytes, often the only (albeit unreliable) histologic change seen in hyperacute myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death, where central coagulated cells are arrested in a relaxed state and reperfusion around the infarct results in cell death “frozen” in a hypercontracted state, spanning the cell’s width.
 
DiffDx
Reperfusion injury, electrocution, selenium deficiency (Keshan disease), infarction, defibrillation, in skeletal muscle in Duchenne and Becker types of muscular dystrophy, drug therapy (e.g., with corticosteroids), catecholamines, abuse substances (e.g., amphetamines, cocaine).