Classification of Atherosclerotic Lesions
| Standard American Heart Association classification* | Revised morphologic classification† |
|---|---|
| Type I: initial lesion | Nonatherosclerotic intimal lesions |
| Type IIa: progression-prone type II lesion | Intimal thickening |
| Type IIb: progression-resistant type II lesion | Fatty streak |
| Type III: intermediate lesion (preatheroma) | Progressive atherosclerotic lesions |
| Type IV: atheroma | Stable plaques |
| Type Va: fibroatheroma (type V lesion) | Pathologic intimal thickening |
| Type Vb: calcific lesion (type VII lesion) | Fibrous cap atheromas |
| Type Vc: fibrotic lesion (type VIII lesion) | Fibrocalcific lesions |
| Type VI: complicated lesion | Vulnerable plaques |
| VIa: with surface defect | Thin fibrous cap atheromas |
| VIb: with hematoma–hemorrhage | Calcified nodule |
| VIc: with thrombotic deposit | Unstable thrombotic plaques |
| Plaque rupture with luminal thrombus | |
| Plaque rupture with ulceration | |
| Plaque erosion | |
| Calcified nodule | |
| Healed lesions |