Blocking of a blood vessel by CHOLESTEROL-rich atheromatous deposits, generally occurring in the flow from a large artery to small arterial branches. It is also called arterial-arterial embolization or atheroembolism which may be spontaneous or iatrogenic. Patients with spontaneous atheroembolism often have painful, cyanotic digits of acute onset.

Synonyms: Cholesterol Embolism, Cholesterol Embolisms, Atheroembolism, Embolisms, Cholesterol, Embolism, Cholesterol, Atheroembolisms