Medial degeneration Aortic elastic fiber disorganization 2018-10-14T14:58:51Z This rarer process is distinct from fragmentation and loss as the fibers acquire a more haphazard, poorly organized appearance, with loss of the usual parallel/concentric arrangement of elastic fibers within the lamellar unit. This finding is noticeable when at high power, and the orientation of the lamellar units parallel to the aortic lumen is lost. The use of an elastic stain is essential to identify this lesion. Disorganization of elastic fibers can be seen in conjunction with smooth muscle cell disorganization. A poorly oriented aortic specimen may appear to have disorganization and should not be confused with the real entity. This rarer entity should be commented upon, when present as it represents a more severe feature of medial degeneration, but is not essential for routine surgical pathology reporting. Aortic elastic fibre disorganisation Nonparallel arrangement/disarray of elastic fibers of the media of the aorta as identified on a stain for elastic fibers.