A group of forensic pathologists are analyzing tissue samples of adolescents age 13-18 to study the aging process. Autopsy of a 14-year-old boy who died in a motor vehicle accident shows several minimally raised yellow spots on the inner surface of the abdominal aorta. The rest of the cardiovascular findings during the autopsy are unremarkable. He had no known medical problems. There was no family history of cardiovascular disease or sudden cardiac death. Which of the following is most likely to be the predominant cell type in these lesions on light microscopy?

Question

A group of forensic pathologists are analyzing tissue samples of adolescents age 13-18 to study the aging process.  Autopsy of a 14-year-old boy who died in a motor vehicle accident shows several minimally raised yellow spots on the inner surface of the abdominal aorta.  The rest of the cardiovascular findings during the autopsy are unremarkable.  He had no known medical problems.  There was no family history of cardiovascular disease or sudden cardiac death.  Which of the following is most likely to be the predominant cell type in these lesions on light microscopy?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

11ec160b_38bf_8699_9249_1708d2e8f968_MD0001_00 The lesions described during autopsy on the inner surface of the abdominal aorta are consistent with fatty streaks. These are the earliest lesions in the progression to atherosclerosis and can be seen as early as the second decade of life. Atherosclerosis is a pathophysiologic process that begins in childhood with the development of focal intimal thickening and lipid accumulation. It progresses in the following sequence: With advancing age, the chronic inflammatory process initiated by endothelial injury transitions from fatty streaks within the intima (composed mainly of lipid-laden foam cells) into atherosclerotic plaques, such as fibrous cap atheromas and fibrous plaques. (Choices A, B, D, and E) Eosinophils, fibroblasts, mast cells, and neutrophils are not the predominant cell types found in fatty streaks. Educational objective: Fatty streaks are the earliest lesions of atherosclerosis and can be seen as early as the second decade of life. They appear as a collection of lipid-laden macrophages (foam cells) in the intima that can eventually progress to atherosclerotic plaques. __________ References: Pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16631513)

A Group of Forensic Pathologists Are Analyzing Tissue Samples of Adolescents