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This patient is a 36-year-old white male with a history of long-standing renal disease who presents with end-stage kidney disease and a BUN of 112 mg/dL. During the present hospitalization he developed a pericardial friction rub and pericardial and pleural effusions. A semi-elective pericardiectomy was performed.
Submitted for examination was a rectangular segment of gray-tan tissue measuring 9.5 x 8.5 x 0.3 cm. The outer surface was fatty in appearance. The inner surface was rough and covered by a number of fine red papillary projections. The projections were composed of fine strands having the appearance of fibrin.
== Images ==
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File:IPLab3FibrinousPericarditis1.jpg|Gross photograph of this heart illustrating acute fibrinous pericarditis. The pericardium on this heart has been reflected back (arrows). The surface of the heart is rough due to the deposition of fibrin on the epicardial surface of the heart and on the inner surface of the pericardium.
File:IPLab3FibrinousPericarditis2bIPLab3FibrinousPericarditis2y.jpg|This is another example of fibrinous pericarditis in another heart. The pericardium has been removed and most of the epicardial surface is covered with fibrinous deposits as in the previous slide. There are a few glistening areas of exposed normal myocardial tissue.
File:IPLab3FibrinousPericarditis3b.jpg|This low-power photomicrograph illustrates the dark-red-staining fibrin deposits on the inner surface (arrows). This pericardium is much thicker than normal and there are numerous inflammatory cells within the pericardial tissue.
File:IPLab3FibrinousPericarditis4b.jpg|This is a higher-power photomicrograph demonstrating fronds of fibrin (arrows) projecting from the surface of the pericardium.