The sudanophilic lesions around the aortic ostia of 10 fetuses, 10 newborns and 10 children aged up to 1 year were studied using a polar coordinate mapping method. The periorificial sudanophilic lesions develop initially distal to the orifices and show a continuous increase with age in percentage and extent. In children the lesions nearly completely surround all the ostia with a significant distal peak. There was no sex difference; the involvement of the right and left side was comparable. The comparison of the morphological data from the parents and children with anamnestics showed no relationship.