GENERAL CONCEPTS IN THE MORPHOLOGIC ASSESSMENT OF OPERATIVELY EXCISEDCARDIAC VALVES .2.

This 2-part article discusses general morphologic assessment of operat ively excised cardiac valves and applies these principles to functiona l classifications. All cardiac valves are categorized into stenotic an d purely regurgitant (no element of stenosis) groups based upon struct ural features: presence or absence of commissural fusion, calcific dep osits, and degree and location of fibrosis. Of 2,980 operatively excis ed cardiac valves reviewed between 1962 and 1992 the most common lesio n was aortic stenosis, followed by mitral stenosis and the combination of aortic and mitral stenosis.