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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2012 Aug 1.
Published in final edited form as: Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther. 2011 Oct;9(10):1315–1330. doi: 10.1586/erc.11.120

Figure 4. Mechanism of plaque hemorrhage, rupture and/or erosion induced by cholesterol crystallization with volume expansion of the necrotic core.

Figure 4

In the case of a large necrotic core, the plaque cap is torn leading to rupture, whereas in the case of a small necrotic core, it leads to erosion. Furthermore, trauma to the vasa vasorum by expanding cholesterol crystals within the plaque causes intraplaque hemorrhage.

Modified with permission from [18].