Description
A hollow hemisphere, irregularly roughened on the convex surface where an occasional fleck of
calcification can be seen in a fibrous tag, which was presumably adherent to the pericardium. The
lesion has been incised and resutured, presumably to facilitate removal. On the concavity of the
hemisphere there are several small areas of organising clot, and other areas where there are nodular
excrescences of calcification
History
This man had a long history of ischaemic heart disease which latterly had presented with
recurrent and refractory ventricular tachycardia. On his final admission the tachycardia did not
respond to treatment and, as an emergency, a coronary bypass was done and the aneurysm was
excised. He did not survive the operation. At autopsy the heart weighed 650g and showed marked
left ventricular hypertrophy. There was also an abdominal aortic aneurysm measuring 15 x 10cm.
Microscopy of the excised left ventricular aneurysm showed hyaline collagen, with areas of
calcification and only an occasional fragment of residualcardiac muscle.