Heterotopic ossification in aortic valves usually involves calcified valves with end-stage valvular disease. Ossification in calcified aortic valves has been considered to be a partly metaplastic process similar to enchondral or endochondral ossification accompanied by vessel proliferation. Aortic valve itself is avascular but neovascularization develops in postinflammatory or rheumatic aortic valves. Indeed, the relationship between aortic valvular ossification and neovessels has been suggested. However, the detailed pathological features of aortic valvular ossification have not been fully elucidated because 1) previous examinations of aortic valvular ossification in larger series were mixed together with those in mitral valves; 2) the neovessels have been mentioned in non-rheumatic aortic valves; and 3) the illustrated neovessels appeared to be divided into thick-walled and thin-walled vessels.
 
Citation: Matsukuma S, Koga A, Takeo H, Sato K (2014) Heterotopic Ossification with and without Neovascularization in Aortic Valves: A Histopathological Study. J Cytol Histol 5:279.

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