VB
Vikas Bhardwaj
Medical Technologist, AIIMS New Delhi
Updated: Apr 17, 2026
**Core Concept**
Restrictive cardiomyopathy is characterized by the replacement of normal myocardial tissue with extracellular material, leading to impaired diastolic function and stiffness of the heart. The deposition of eosinophilic hyaline material in the myocardium is a hallmark of amyloidosis, a condition where abnormal proteins accumulate in various organs, including the heart.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The extracellular eosinophilic hyaline material is likely to be amyloid fibrils, which are composed of beta-pleated sheets of protein. These fibrils are responsible for the stiffness and restrictive filling pattern seen in amyloid cardiomyopathy. On transmission electron microscopy (TEM), amyloid fibrils appear as randomly arranged, non-branching, and non-bundled filaments with a diameter of approximately 7-10 nanometers.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option is incorrect because it does not match the description of amyloid fibrils. The presence of amyloid fibrils is diagnostic of amyloidosis.
**Option B:** This option is incorrect because it suggests the presence of collagen, which is a normal component of the extracellular matrix, but not the specific hallmark of amyloidosis.
**Option C:** This option is incorrect because it suggests the presence of lipofuscin, which is a type of waste material that accumulates in cells over time, but not the specific hallmark of amyloidosis.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
Amyloidosis can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetic mutations, autoimmune disorders, and chronic inflammation. The presence of amyloid fibrils in the myocardium can lead to restrictive cardiomyopathy, which is characterized by impaired diastolic function and stiffness of the heart.
**Correct Answer:** C.