with a correspondingly thin fibrous cap — a vulnerable plaque prone to rupture and thrombosis. Atherosclerotic plaques typically progress to the advancing atheroma stage at age 55 years to 65 years.

within the necrotic core of atherosclerotic plaques. With “plaque rupture” or “plaque erosion,” the thin fibrous cap covering the plaque is disrupted or ulcerated. This exposes the blood ...