A pathologist notes that infarcted myocardium from 3 days ago shows nuclear pyknosis, karyorrhexis, and karyolysis with preserved cell outlines. This is an example of which type of necrosis?

• A Liquefactive necrosis
• B Caseous necrosis
• C Fat necrosis
• D Coagulative necrosis ✓

Explanation

Coagulative necrosis results from ischemia in most solid organs; denaturation of structural proteins and enzymes preserves the cell outlines for days, creating 'ghost cells.' Nuclear changes (pyknosis → karyorrhexis → karyolysis) occur in sequence. Liquefactive necrosis occurs in brain infarcts and bacterial abscesses due to abundant hydrolytic enzymes. Caseous necrosis is amorphous and granular, seen in tuberculosis.

Reference: Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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