Coronary Atherosclerosis : Plaque Hemorrhage

Acute coronary syndromes (unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction, sudden death) are usually precipitated by disruption of a stable atheromatous plaque in one of the major coronary arteries. The complicating event may be plaque rupture, erosion, ulceration, fissuring, or hemorrhage. The photograph shows hemorrhage within the plaque (2nd & 3rd sections from the left) in the right coronary artery of a 60 female who died suddenly.