title: The pathology of cholesterol embolism arising as a complication of intra-aortic catheterization.
abstract: Cholesterol embolism is an unusual but serious complication of intra-arterial procedures such as arteriography and angioplasty. The pathological findings in four cases confirm that this syndrome is due to disseminated micro-emboli composed mainly of cholesterol crystals and that these originate from atheromatous plaques in the aorta which may be traumatized by the catheter used in the intra-arterial procedure. However, angiography is not the sole precipitating cause of this syndrome but is an exacerbating event in a pre-existing process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cumberland
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gaines
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001011:Aorta; D001027:Aortography / Q000009:adverse effects; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002784:Cholesterol; D004617:Embolism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol