Heart valve

Author: Mikael Häggström

Comprehensiveness

On this resource, the following formatting is used for comprehensiveness:

• Minimal depth
• (Moderate depth)
• ((Comprehensive))

Presentations

• In autopsy, see Heart autopsy.

Gross processing

File:Gross pathology of vegetation of infective endocarditis, annotated.jpg

A granular red-brown discoloration, possibly representing bacterial vegetations.

• Measure the dimensions of fragments. If multiple, the greatest dimension of each fragment is enough.
• Describe and measure any pathologies, at least the greatest dimension thereof, in particular:

• Suspected bacterial vegetations, such as granular red-brown discolorations.
• Calcifications.

• Look for red-brown discolorations which may be bacterial vegetations.

Gross report

Example:

((A. Labeled - ___. The specimen is received in formalin and consists of)) multiple fragments of tan-white tissue measuring 0.2 to 1.0 cm. Multiple, nodular calcifications are present measuring up to 0.2cm. (Representative sections are submitted for microscopic examination in __ cassettes.)

Microscopic examination

Look in particular for:

• Dystrophic calcifications.[image 1]
  Dystrophic calcifications.
• Bacterial vegetations. In a consistent clinical setting, neutrophils and fibrin is enough to diagnose a bacterial vegetation, even without visible bacterial colonies.[image 1]
  Bacterial vegetations. In a consistent clinical setting, neutrophils and fibrin is enough to diagnose a bacterial vegetation, even without visible bacterial colonies.
• Myxomatous degeneration (thinning of fibrosa layer and thickening of spongiosa layer with mucoid material (pictured).[image 1]
  Myxomatous degeneration (thinning of fibrosa layer and thickening of spongiosa layer with mucoid material (pictured).

Microscopic reporting

Example report:

Mitral valve, resection: Fragments of cardiac valve with marked dystrophic calcification.

Main page

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