Exit Tracts
August 03, 2011
Figures A and B (B, close-up of rectangle area in A) shows a coronary artery with what I prefer to call an “exit tract” in it. That is, it is a tiny channel that communicates between the soft core of a plaque, called an atheroma, and the channel of the coronary artery. The channel of the artery in A is filled with a colored material which we injected after death to be able to identify abnormalities in the coronary arteries, such as these tracts. We know this channel was open during life because portions of it contain the injected material.
The purpose of these tracts is to provide a way for the semi-liquid contents of the atheroma to be extruded into the artery channel. This is nature’s way of partially decompressing the plaque, reducing its size and the chances of rupture. Such tracts may open and close repeatedly over time as the plaque enlarges. The patient is not aware of such plaques and will not have symptoms because the amount of material extruded is tiny and quickly diluted by flowing blood.
One other observation is important here. The presence of these tracts tells us that the body does not like having atheromas in the coronary arteries. Atheromas are filled with destroyed tissue (called necrotic tissue) and the body does not tolerate necrotic tissue. This type of tissue will either, rupture and drain, or it will be removed and replaced with scar tissue.
We have identified a number of such tracts during the course of our studies. Some of these can be seen in our book, “Inflammatory Atherosclerosis: Characteristics of the Injurious Agent.”
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| Acute Myocardial Infarction is complicated by, not caused by, Ischemia
June 05, 2006
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| Cholesterol crystals and plaque fissure.
November 26, 2007
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| Coronary calcification
December 03, 2007
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| Exit Tracts
August 03, 2011
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| Is Atherosclerosis Caused By A Single Infectious Agent?
June 05, 2006
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| Multiple acute syndromes, but only one substrate. Why?
June 05, 2006
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| Sudden Cardiac Death May Not Be Caused By Ischemia
April 17, 2008
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| Ulcerated Plaques (UP)
August 01, 2011
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