Cardiac Pathology Vocabulary

aortic aneurysm

balloon-like bulge that occurs in the aorta; rupture can cause life-threatening bleeding inside the body

ischemic heart disease (IHD) / coronary artery disease (CAD)

heart damage caused by poor blood flow to the heart

hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)

a genetic disorder that is characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy unexplained by secondary causes and a nondilated left ventricle with preserved or increased ejection fraction

dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)

a disorder in which the heart becomes enlarged (usually starting with the LV, then RV, then atria) and cannot pump effectively

restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM)

a condition characterized by the coexistence of persistent restrictive pathophysiology, diastolic dysfunction, non-dilated ventricles, and atrial dilatation, regardless of ventricular wall thickness and systolic function

infiltrative cardiomyopathy (ICM)

a group of diseases characterized by the deposition of abnormal substances within cellular and intercellular spaces, leading to the development of ventricular diastolic dysfunction, systolic dysfunction or both

infiltrative cardiomyopathy (ICM)

a heterogenous group of myocardial disorders, mainly cardiac amyloidosis, sarcoidosis, and hemochromatosis

amyloidosis

a rare disease characterized by a buildup of abnormal amyloid deposits in one or several organs

sarcoidosis

a chronic disease characterized by lumps or nodules called granulomas forming in the body’s organs, lungs, lymph nodes, skin, eyes, etc.

hemochromatosis

a genetic disorder that leads to excessive iron absorption and accumulation in the body

myocarditis

an inflammation of the middle, muscle layer of the heart that’s typically caused by viral infection; can lead to heart failure, cardiomyopathy, arrythmias

infective endocarditis

an infection of the inner layer of the heart, usually involving the valves; caused by pathogen entering the body, attaching to a cardiac structure and multiplying

pericarditis

an inflammation of the thin sac-like membrane that surrounds the heart caused by infection, autoimmune diseases, or injury

carcinoid heart disease

a rare condition where fibrous plaque builds up on the heart's right-sided valves, primarily due to vasoactive substances like serotonin released by neuroendocrine tumors, leading to right heart failure

carcinoid syndrome

a syndrome caused by metastatic, well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors, primarily originating in the GI tract or lungs

rheumatic fever

an inflammatory autoimmune disease that can result from inadequately treated strep throat or scarlet fever; causes inflammation of the heart, blood vessels, and joints

rheumatic heart disease

a disorder caused by damage to the heart valves from an inflammatory reaction to a streptococcal infection, or strep throat

patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)

a congenital heart defect where a blood vessel from fetal circulation, called the ductus arteriosus, fails to close after birth, causing too much blood to flow to the lungs

patent foramen ovale (PFO)

a hole between the left and right atria that didn’t close after birth; can increase risk of stroke

left ventricular pseudoaneurysm

a result of rupture of the ventricular free wall, contained by overlying adherent pericardium

left ventricular true aneurysm

a localized, weakened bulge of the heart wall that includes all three layers of the heart's wall, gradually transitioning from normal to thinner muscle tissue

sinus of valsalva aneurysm

a rare cardiovascular anomaly marked by abnormal dilation of the aortic root area between the aortic valve annulus and the sinotubular ridge

acute aortic syndrome (AAS)

the modern term that includes a range of severe, life-threatening abnormalities including acute aortic dissection (AAD), intramural hematoma (IMH), and penetrating aortic ulcer (PAU)

pulmonary hypertension / high blood pressure

small blood vessels that go through the lungs become thicker, constrict or plugged leading to increased pressure in those vessels, making the right side of the heart work harder to pump blood through the lungs

pulmonary embolism (PE)

when clots break off from vein walls and travel through the heart to the pulmonary arteries

atrial fibrillation (AFib)

a heart rhythm disorder where the heart's upper chambers (atria) beat chaotically and irregularly, leading to an irregular and often rapid heartbeat

Tetralogy of Fallot

a rare condition caused by a combination of four heart defects that are present at birth: ventricular septal defect, overriding aorta, pulmonary stenosis and right ventricular hypertophy

mitral valve prolapse (MVP)

the flaps of the mitral valve become enlarged, stretched, or floppy, causing them to bulge backward into the left atrium as the heart pumps

atresia

a valve is completely closed or not formed at all

stenosis

a valve becomes narrowed or stiff, restricting the forward flow of blood

regurgitation

a valve doesn’t close properly, allowing blood to leak backward

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy / Broken heart syndrome

is a type of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy in which there is a sudden temporary weakening of the muscular portion of the heart