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Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Integrated Photoacoustic, Ultrasound, and Angiographic Tomography (PAUSAT) for NonInvasive Whole-Brain Imaging of Ischemic Stroke
06:45

Integrated Photoacoustic, Ultrasound, and Angiographic Tomography (PAUSAT) for NonInvasive Whole-Brain Imaging of Ischemic Stroke

Published on: June 2, 2023

Autopsy approach to stroke

Seth Love1

  • 1Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Frenchay Hospital, Bristol, UK. seth.love@bris.ac.uk

Histopathology
|July 30, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Autopsies for stroke patients often overlook crucial brain details. Comprehensive examination is vital for understanding stroke pathology, causes, and clinical implications.

Area of Science:

  • Neuropathology
  • Vascular Pathology
  • Forensic Pathology

Background:

  • Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability.
  • Autopsies frequently examine brain and relevant tissues cursorily.
  • Pathological findings and clinical implications depend on stroke type, location, and cause.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the importance of thorough autopsy examination in stroke cases.
  • To outline the diverse pathological findings associated with different stroke types.
  • To emphasize the clinical relevance of accurate post-mortem diagnosis in stroke.

Main Methods:

  • Review of pathological findings in stroke patients.
  • Correlation of autopsy findings with clinical data.
  • Discussion of common and uncommon causes of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.
  • Emphasis on proper autopsy preparation and examination techniques.

Main Results:

  • Large ischemic strokes often linked to atherosclerosis or dissection.
  • Small cerebral infarcts commonly caused by arteriosclerosis or cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA).
  • Vasculitides and coagulopathies present varied stroke patterns.
  • Subarachnoid hemorrhage primarily from berry aneurysms; parenchymal hemorrhage often due to hypertensive small vessel disease or neoplasms.
  • Global brain ischemia can mimic hypoglycemic injury.

Conclusions:

  • Adequate stroke autopsy requires meticulous preparation, knowledge of vascular anatomy, and careful gross and histological examination.
  • Understanding diverse stroke etiologies is crucial for accurate diagnosis.
  • Thorough examination improves understanding of stroke morbidity and mortality.

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