English: Intermediate magnification micrograph of cystic medial degeneration, abbreviated CMD. It is also known as cystic medial necrosis. Aortic repair. Movat stain.

In pathology, there is no truth in names; cystic medial necrosis may lack necrosis and not be cystic.

The characteristic features are:

• Basophilic ground substance in the media (seen on Movat's stain).
• Disruption of the elastic lamina (seen with an elastic stain).
• +/-Focal necrosis.

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  Very low mag.
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  Low mag.
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  Intermed. mag.
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  High mag.
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  Very high mag.

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  Very low mag.
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  Low mag.
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  Low mag.
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  Intermed. mag.
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  High mag.
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  Very high mag.