Figure 1

Gross and histological findings of the heart. (A) This panel shows a short-axis section of the ventricles with small subendocardial abscesses (arrows). In (B) the left atrium and the mitral valve were opened. There is complete rupture of the anterior papillary muscle, with the tip still bound to the mitral chordae (white arrow). (C) This panel shows a photomicrography image of the necrotic papillary muscle (p.m.). The arrows point to groups of cocci. In (D), part of the wall of the anterior descending coronary arterial (coronary art.) branch shows a dense neutrophil exudate. The insert shows a group of bacteria found among the inflammatory cells (Brown-Hopps stain).