INFARCTION OF THE CARDIAC AURICLES (ATRIA): CLINICAL, PATHOLOGICAL, AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES

Abstract

Infarction of the auricles * (atria) of the heart is generally considered a rare lesion of little clinical importance and few cases are reported. However, a study of the records at the University Hospitals of Cleveland showed that the auricles were involved in 31 (17.0 per cent) of 182 cases of myocardial infarction that were proven at autopsy during the seven year period from 1934 to 1940. This is the highest incidence of auricular infarction in any reported series, but is thought to be near the true incidence of the lesion, because during the period of investigation the auricles were specifically examined for infarcts.