A case is presented of an 89-year-old woman who died following an operation for arterial embo- lism of the lower limb. The autopsy histology showed acute occlusion of a stenosed sclerotic femoral artery by thrombotic and atheromatous emboli. In addition, it showed chronic choleste- rol crystal embolism in multiple small arteries of abdominal organs, particularly of the kidneys. Abdominal aorta with severe ulcerated atherosclerosis appeared as the source of embolism.

        Key words: atheroembolism - cholesterol embolism - acute arterial occlusion of lower limbs