Although there is no real known definite cause, extensive research showed people 18 years or older were found to have had a hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart muscle becomes oddly thickened without any obvious cause. This was the most commonly identified abnormality in sudden death of young adults. In the instances where people experience sudden death, it is most commonly found that they had had CAD (coronary artery disease) or ASCAD (atherosclerotic coronary artery disease), or any level of stress. However, studies reveal that people experienced early symptoms within the week before the terminal event such as chest pain at ~52% of patients, dyspnea at ~22%, syncope at ~7% and ~19% who experienced no symptoms. Scientists have also associated this syndrome with the gene SCN5A that is mutated and affects the function of the heart. However, all autopsies done on those who had this syndrome came back negative.In the Philippines, bangungot (or in their term, sudden adult death syndrome) is mainly caused by the Brugada syndrome. Diagnosis
Diagnosis occurs post-mortem. Treatment
The only proven way to prevent SADS is with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. Oral beta-blockers such as propranolol are ineffective. Epidemiology
In 1980, a reported pattern of sudden deaths was brought to the attention of the Centers for Disease Control. The first reported sudden death occurred in 1948 when there were 81 similar deaths of Filipino men in Oahu County, Hawaii. However, it did not become relevant because there was no associated pattern. This syndrome continued to become more significant as years went on.
Malignant triton tumor (MTT) is a relatively rare, aggressive tumor made up of both malignant schwannoma cells and malignant rhabdomyoblasts. It is classified as a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor with rhabdomyosarcomatous differentiation.The unusual name "triton" was first used in reference to observation of supernumerary limbs containing bone and muscle growing on the backs of triton salamanders after the implantation of sciatic nerve tissue. Diagnosis
There are three diagnostic criteria proposed:
The tumor arises along a peripheral nerve, or in a ganglioneuroma, or in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), or has a metastatic character. The growth characteristics of the tumor is typical for a Schwann cell tumor. Rhabdomyoblasts arise within the body of the tumor. Treatment
References
Bibliography
Stasik CJ, Tawfik; Tawfik, O (2006). "Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor with rhabdomyosarcomatous differentiation (malignant triton tumor)". Arch Pathol Lab Med. 130 (12): 1878–81. doi:10.5858/2006-130-1878-MPNSTW. PMID 17149968.