Sudden cardiac death in young athletes: trying to find the needle in the haystack.

Sudden cardiac death in young athletes is an infrequent, but catastrophic event. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, coronary artery anomalies, and arrhythmias are common identifiable causes of sudden cardiac death. Many of these disorders can be difficult to diagnose, and athletes may be completely asymptomatic prior to their sudden death event. This article reviews causes of sudden cardiac death in young athletes and current recommendations for pre-participation screening.