[A comparative study between the clinical and autoptic findings in cases with malignant tumor in the head and neck]

In 106 autopsies of patients in Kitasato University Hospital from 1974 to 1989, who had died of malignant tumor in the head and neck, the relationship between the clinical diagnosis and its autoptic finding was retrospectively investigated. The result was summarized as follows. 1. Characteristics in 98 cases other than malignant lymphoma: 1) Local recurrence was detected by autopsy in 60 cases (61%) among 98. Discrepancy between clinical diagnosis and autoptic findings was recognized in 10 cases (10%), in whom 4 false positive cases by clinical diagnosis were included and it was considered that the rate was relatively high. 2) The metastatic lymph nodes were demonstrated by autopsy in 50 cases (51%). Discrepancy between clinical diagnosis and autoptic findings was found in 37 (38%), 35 of them were clinically diagnosed to be negative. However, in 35 of them it was considered that the discrepancy had not influenced their fatal courses. 3) Metastases to distant organs were demonstrated by autopsy in 49 (50%). Discrepancy between clinical diagnosis and autoptic findings was found in 39 (40%). 33 of them were clinically diagnosed to be negative. The discrepancy concerned with the causes of death was shown in 5 cases. 2. Characteristics in 8 cases of malignant lymphoma: Discrepancy between clinical diagnosis and autoptic findings of distant metastases was frequently observed but the discrepancy concerned with the causes of death was not shown. There were 2 cases in which side effect of chemotherapy may cause poor prognosis.