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Open Access 01-12-2009 | Case report

The accessory papillary muscle with inferior J-waves - peculiarity or hidden danger?

Authors: James Ker, Lorraine du Toit

Published in: Cardiovascular Ultrasound | Issue 1/2009

Abstract

Originally described in 1953, today the so-called J-wave is the source of much controversy. As a marker of so-called "early repolarization", this variant has been regarded as a totally benign variant since the 1960's. However, since then a wealth of data have indicated that the J-wave may be a marker of a highly arrhythmogenic substrate with a resultant high risk of sudden cardiac death.

In this case report a case of an accessory papillary muscle with a prominent J-wave is described. This may be the first of many possible cases where papillary muscle variants may be the cause of the J-wave.

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Title: The accessory papillary muscle with inferior J-waves - peculiarity or hidden danger?
Authors: James Ker
Lorraine du Toit
Publication date: 01-12-2009
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Cardiovascular Ultrasound / Issue 1/2009
Electronic ISSN: 1476-7120
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-7120-7-50

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