By using an orderly approach the physician is able to correlate bedside observations and laboratory findings with pathophysiology and the basic elements of cardiac pathology, as shown in the following specimen.
Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy specimen
This is a pathology specimen from a patient with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. The heart is typically enlarged with dilatation of all four chambers. Such dilatation may mask the presence of hypertrophy. Note the marked wall thinning of both ventricles. Intracardiac thrombi are also commonly seen at necropsy in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.