
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
ST elevation myocardial infarction gross pathology
Introduction
Gross Pathology
Gross Pathology
Myocardial infarction can be classified temporally from clinical and other features, as well as according to the pathological appearance as:[1]
- Evolving phase of myocardial infarction: (>6 hours),
- Acute phase of myocardial infarction: (6 hours – 7 days),
- Healing phase of myocardial infarction: (7–28 days),
- Healed phase of myocardial infarction: (29 days and beyond).
Time from Onset and Gross Morphologic Finding Relations:
- 18 – 24 hours: Pallor of myocardium
- 24 – 72 hours: Pallor with some hyperemia
- 3 – 7 days: Hyperemic border with central yellowing
- 10 – 21 days: Maximally yellow and soft with vascular margins
- 7 weeks: White fibrosis
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]



















