Home > D. General pathology > Vascular pathology > atheroma
atheroma
Wednesday 26 September 2012
| WKP |
Definition: In pathology, an atheroma (from ἀθήρωμα (athērōma), “tumor full gruel-like matter”) is an accumulation and swelling in artery walls made up of (mostly) macrophage cells, or debris, and containing lipids (cholesterol and fatty acids), calcium and a variable amount of fibrous connective tissue.
Atheroma causes atherosclerosis, which is one of the three subtypes of arteriosclerosis (which are atherosclerosis, Monckeberg’s arteriosclerosis and arteriolosclerosis).
Classification
Type I: Isolated macrophage foam cells
Type II: Multiple foam cell layers
Type III: Preatheroma, intermediate lesion
Type IV: Atheroma
Type V: Fibroatheroma
Type VI: Fissured, ulcerated, hemorrhagic, thrombotic lesion
Type VII: Calcific lesion
Type VIII: Fibrotic lesion
