Specimen A This is a specimen from a patient with uremic pericarditis. In uremic pericarditis, the pericardial surface is covered with gray white strands of fibrin. It is a sterile form of pericarditis which is characteristically dry and lacking of serous components. Note that it involves both the visceral and parietal layers.

Specimen B This specimen is an example of fibrinous pericarditis. The parietal layer has been removed and the fibrinous exudate can be seen to almost totally cover the surface of the heart, described as a bread and butter appearance.

Specimen C This is a specimen from a patient with a hemorrhagic effusion along with left ventricular hypertrophy. Hemorrhagic pericarditis is common in the setting of acute infarction. Blood in the pericardial effusion should also suggest the possibility of malignancy or tuberculosis.