Scanning electron microscopy of aortic medial changes in aortic ascending dilatation.
The study of cystic cavities and collagen fibers fragmentation is useful to for a better knowledge of pathogenesis and surgical therapy of medial ascending aortic degeneration. Thus, the aim of this study was to describe by scanning electron microscopy the surfaces and shape of the cysts, measure their area, and identify microcystic spaces related to this degenerative disease. Scanning electron microscopy analysis was performed in 16 out of 36 patients who underwent surgery for ascending aorta dilatation with associated aortic valve disease. The aortic medial wall showed a cribrose appearance at low magnification (x50-100) and the intima was effuse. At high magnification (x500-2000), small cavities (clefts) lined by normal or fragmented elastic fibers and large cavities (pseudocystes) with anfractuous borders lined by fragmented elastic fibers and smooth muscle cells were observed. Furthermore, in the outer media wall microvessels lined by endothelium were also observed. These changes were lacking or less pronounced in normal aorta. SEM allows one to better identify the pathological cavities and to differentiate them from microvessels. These pathological cavities are more numerous and larger in the convexity than in the concavity of the aorta in according to our previous morphological and morphometric findings in asymmetrical aorta dilatation.
Department of Public Health, Section of Pathology, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Franca
F
Ferraraccio
Salvatore
S
Esposito
Pasquale
P
Santé
Flavio
F
Cerasuolo
Manuela
M
Agozzino
Marina
M
Agozzino
Maurizio
M
Cotrufo
Lucio
L
Agozzino
D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014463:Ultrasonography