The objective of this Atlas is to contribute to the knowledge of morphological findings of the main cardiovascular diseases among the various specialists who deal with people affected of heart diseases: cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons, clinical and forensic pathologists, coroners, sports medicine doctors. The interest in cardiovascular pathology, neglected for years in many countries, is increasing worldwide and we are witnessing the revitalization of a discipline, which, in collaboration with clinicians, is making great contributions to the fight against heart diseases and sudden-unexpected deaths. This atlas of cardiovascular diseases is the result of close collaboration between Spanish specialists in cardiology and in cardiovascular pathology and describes the clinical and pathologic features (gross and histopathologial) of major cardiovascular diseases in adults, especially those acquired, but also treat relevant congenital anomalies. This book contains 635 images, 78 tables and graphics distributed in 12 chapters across the spectrum of diseases that can be found in each of the structures of the cardiovascular system (aorta, pulmonary vessels, coronaries, valves, myocardium, pericardium and conduction system). The coordinated work of forensic pathologists from different cities in Spain and cardiologists (primarily from the Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro de Madrid) has assembled in all chapters their two worlds (forensic pathology and cardiology) to achieve a practical work with the aim to serve as a practical tool for multiple specialists.
About the Author: Prof. Joaquin Lucena is head of the Forensic Pathology Department, Institute of Legal Medicine, Seville (Spain) and Associated Professor of Forensic Medicine, University of Cadiz Medical School. Visiting professor of different universities in Europe and South America. Founder and first President of the Spanish Society of Forensic Pathology. Councillor of the board at the Association for European Cardiovascular Pathology (AECVP). His areas of research include cardiovascular pathology and sudden death (young and adults), sudden death in sports and cardiovascular pathology related to drugs of abuse. Prof. Luis Alonso-Pulpon is Head of Department of Cardiology at the University Hospital Puerta de Hierro in Madrid, Spain and Past-president of the Spanish Society of Cardiology. His field of research includes heart failure and heart transplant. He is one of the pioneers of heart transplantation in Europe. Pablo Garcia-Pavia is a consultant cardiologist at the Department of Cardiology of Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro in Madrid, Spain. This center is the leading heart transplant center in Spain. His professional activity is related with the heart failure and heart transplant section. The Cardiomyopathy Unit itself acts as referral unit for familial cardiac disease at the Spanish National Health System. His areas of research also includes cardiomyopathies with special focus on genetics. M. Paz Suarez-Mier has been working on forensic pathology for more than 20 years at the National Institute of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences in Madrid. She has a special interest in sudden cardiac death during sport activities. In 2003 a paper about this topic published in Revista Española de Cardiología received the award to the best paper of the year.