In medicine, a vegetation is an abnormal growth[1] named for its similarity to natural vegetation. Vegetations are often associated with endocarditis.[2][3][4] They can be made of fibrin[5] and platelets.[6]
Certain conditions are associated with specific vegetation patterns:
Condition | Size | Infective? |
---|---|---|
Infective endocarditis related to Staphylococcus aureus | Generally large | Yes |
Rheumatic fever related to Streptococcus pyogenes | Typically small | |
Libman–Sacks endocarditis related to systemic lupus erythematosus | Small | No (sterile) |
Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE) | Small | No (sterile) |