Formerly known as marantic endocarditis, which comes from the Greek marantikos, meaning "wasting away".

[1] The term "marantic endocarditis" is still sometimes used to emphasize the association with a wasting state[2] such as cancer.

[3] Marantic vegetations are often associated with previous rheumatic fever.

Histologically, lesions are composed of fibrin[5] (eosinophilic) and platelets but, unlike bacterial etiologies, contain little evidence of PMNs, microorganisms or inflammation.

[citation needed] Due to the non-invasive nature of NBTE, clinical examination may or may not reveal a new murmur.