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Histopathology at autopsy: why bother?
Amber F I Matkowski1, Emyr W Benbow1,2
1School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Histopathology
|January 14, 2021
Summary
Histopathology significantly impacts autopsy findings, altering the cause of death in 45% of cases. This crucial technique enhances the diagnostic accuracy of autopsy reports, especially for lung and kidney pathology.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Pathology
- Autopsy Histopathology
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Autopsy histopathology frequency varies, potentially limiting report value.
- Inadequate sampling can compromise autopsy findings.
- The contribution of histopathology at autopsy requires thorough investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the contribution of histopathology in autopsy.
- To assess the impact of histopathology on determining the cause of death.
- To analyze the concordance between gross and microscopic findings.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 532 coronial autopsy reports.
- Comparison of gross and microscopic diagnoses for concordance.
- Categorization of revisions to the cause of death post-histopathology.
Main Results:
- Histopathology was requested in 27% of cases.
- Greatest discordance between gross and microscopic findings was in the lung (11.6%).
- Histopathology altered the direct cause of death in 45% of cases and provided supportive information in 38%.
Conclusions:
- Histopathology plays a critical role in autopsy interpretation.
- It significantly impacts the determination of the cause of death.
- Autopsy histopathology is essential for comprehensive diagnostic accuracy.
