Cardiac Pathology: Heart/Lung: Bacterial endocarditis: Mycotic aneurysm

A 1967 autopsy specimen from a 29 year old West Indian labourer found to have a cardiac lesion, after mass miniature radiography revealed an abnormal cardiac shadow in 1961. Cardiac catheterisation showed a ventricular septal defect with a left-to-right shunt. It was felt that he would require operative correction of the lesion at some stage, but in view of his absence of symptoms it was thought best to delay this. On 19.11.65 while cycling to work, he collapsed in the street with profuse haemoptysis and was dead upon arrival at hospital.