A new three-dimensional postmortem method to study the topography of atherosclerosis using profilometry.
The examination of high resolution casts of atherosclerotic arteries with a surface profile projector provides a 3-dimensional method for the measurement of atherosclerotic lesions. Lesions recorded on casts are found to predict gross and microscopic pathology. The contrast and magnification provided afford a continuum of atherosclerotic grades from the microscopic to macroscopic range. Lesion size and grade can be related to the geometry of the arterial lumen.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D001344:Autopsy; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010336:Pathology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*