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.

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

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