A 62-year-old woman undergoes femoral-popliteal bypass surgery for peripheral vascular disease. The surgeon notes stiff, pipe-like femoral arteries that feel like calcified tubes but the vessel lumen is patent and easily cannulated. Histology shows concentric rings of calcium deposited in the tunica media of these muscular arteries. This finding is:
- A Calciphylaxis due to secondary hyperparathyroidism
- B Accelerated atherosclerosis requiring urgent endarterectomy
- C Monckeberg medial calcific sclerosis, generally not luminal narrowing ✓
- D Hyaline arteriolosclerosis from long-standing diabetes
Correct answer: C. Monckeberg medial calcific sclerosis, generally not luminal narrowing
Explanation
Monckeberg medial calcific sclerosis affects the media of muscular arteries, typically in persons older than 50 years, producing rigid, non-compliant vessels detectable radiographically. Despite its striking appearance it usually does not compromise the lumen and is clinically insignificant by itself, though it commonly coexists with atherosclerosis. Hyaline arteriolosclerosis affects small arterioles, and calciphylaxis involves painful skin necrosis with small-vessel calcification.
Reference: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.