CASE HISTORY

Very ill on admission. Impending gangrene of both legs. Pale woman, in neglected condition, breathing rapid and laboured. Died shortly after admission.

PATHOLOGY

The specimen consists of the abdominal aorta and the common iliac arteries. The aorta is in fairly good condition for a person of this age. There were only a few fatty streaks down as far as the abdominal portion. Here the vessel is occluded with a firm, adherent, friable, pinkish-grey thrombus which extends 4" above the bifurcation and for about 3" into each iliac artery below. The wall of the vessel in this part was gritty and apparently in the site of atheromatous ulceration. This cannot be seen in the specimen as it is hidden by the thrombus. There are no signs of syphilitic aortitis.