Coagulative necrosis

Coagulative necrosis is a type of necrosis in which the architecture of dead tissue is preserved for a span of at least some days. This is in contrast to liquefactive necrosis, where the tissue becomes liquid. Coagulative necrosis is most commonly caused by conditions that disrupt the blood supply to a particular organ or tissue, such as ischemia or infarction.

Causes

The most common cause of coagulative necrosis is hypoxia caused by ischemia or infarction, typically in the heart or kidney. Other causes can include exposure to certain toxins or pathogens.

Pathophysiology

In coagulative necrosis, the underlying tissue architecture is preserved for at least several days. This is thought to be due to the denaturation of proteins, which prevents the proteolysis of dead cells. As a result, the affected tissues are firm and have a pale appearance.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of coagulative necrosis is typically made through histological examination of the affected tissue. The necrotic tissue will appear as a coagulated mass, with the architecture of the tissue preserved.

Treatment

Treatment for coagulative necrosis primarily involves addressing the underlying cause of the necrosis. This may involve restoring blood flow to the affected area, treating any underlying infection, or removing the source of toxin exposure.

See also

• Necrosis
• Liquefactive necrosis
• Caseous necrosis
• Fibrinoid necrosis
• Gangrenous necrosis

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  Histopathology of a pheochromocytoma with coagulative necrosis, annotated