Inflammatory diseases of the Aorta - Morphologic Patterns - III - Giant cell Aortitis Microscopy

Microscopic examination of cases of Giant Cell Aortitis shows a proliferative intima. The media shows large areas of laminar necrosis (i.e. necrosis of the smooth muscle, without disappearance of the elastic lamellae, which instead collapse. Proliferation of vasa vasorum from the adventitia into the middle third of the media is common. The inflammatory infiltrates (mononuclear cells and giant cells) are commonly found in the vicinity of these vasa vasorum (insets H&E and Movat).

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