Pericarditis - Constrictive

This heart shows dense organized fibrous pericarditis encasing it. The fibrosis is present around atria and the ventricles. There is fusion of the parietal and visceral pericardium forming a thick layer of dense rigid fibrous tissue which effectively prevents diastolic relaxation of the heart. The white arrows demonstrate the thick fused layers of fibrosis encasing the heart. 
(There is a prominent Eustachian valve in this specimen)
PA= Pulmonary artery.  SVC = Superior vena cava.  LA = Left atrium.  RA = Right atrium.  LV = Left ventricle.  IVS = Interventricular septum.  RV = Right ventricle.

Back to Pericardial disease


Back to Home Page