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Der Pathologe Sep 2017
Topics: Autopsy; Humans
PubMed: 28842755
DOI: 10.1007/s00292-017-0342-5 -
Nature Microbiology Nov 2023The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in millions of deaths as a result of COVID-19. Suitable models were missing at the beginning of the pandemic, and studies... (Review)
Review
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in millions of deaths as a result of COVID-19. Suitable models were missing at the beginning of the pandemic, and studies investigating disease pathogenesis relied on patients who had succumbed to COVID-19. Since then, autopsies of patients have substantially contributed to our understanding of the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and associated major organ complications. Here we summarize how autopsies have complemented experimental studies, mainly in animal models, and how they have facilitated critical knowledge of COVID-19 to improve daily clinical practice and develop therapeutic interventions. Employing advanced histopathologic and molecular genetic methods in post-mortem tissues, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of autopsies for virology research and clinical practice in current and emerging infectious diseases.
Topics: Animals; Humans; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Autopsy; Pandemics; Models, Animal
PubMed: 37798476
DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01488-7 -
The American Journal of Pathology Sep 2019This Guest Editorial highlights the importance of autopsies in biomedical discovery.
This Guest Editorial highlights the importance of autopsies in biomedical discovery.
Topics: Autopsy; Genetic Testing; Genomics; Humans; Pathology, Clinical
PubMed: 31199923
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2019.05.006 -
Current Protocols in Mouse Biology Sep 2015Necropsy (also known as autopsy) is the post-mortem dissection of bodies after euthanasia or death and is a scientific examination conducted to observe and dissect the...
Necropsy (also known as autopsy) is the post-mortem dissection of bodies after euthanasia or death and is a scientific examination conducted to observe and dissect the organs, collect tissues, and determine the extent of grossly evident disease. Research necropsies are conducted to obtain specific samples tailored according to study objectives. Diagnostic necropsy may be undertaken when unexpected illness or death occurs. The systematic collection of samples at necropsy is the critical first step in generating morphologic data from animal models. The morphologic (anatomic and histologic) data generates information on changes in cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems providing context for phenotypes (functional and morphological) to the level of the whole organism. Optimal insight into phenotype or pathophysiologic mechanisms is obtained when morphologic data is coupled with laboratory, medical, and molecular findings. This protocol provides a standard for an efficient routine mouse necropsy with brief comments on advanced or alternative techniques.
Topics: Animal Structures; Animals; Autopsy; Dissection; Mice
PubMed: 26331757
DOI: 10.1002/9780470942390.mo140296 -
Scandinavian Journal of Public Health Jul 2020A clinical as well as forensic autopsy is a uniform medical investigation of the deceased, which mainly serves to verify the plausibility of information on the cause,... (Review)
Review
A clinical as well as forensic autopsy is a uniform medical investigation of the deceased, which mainly serves to verify the plausibility of information on the cause, mode and mechanism of death provided by the police and/or medical personnel. Despite its importance in the context of a conclusive assessment of a person's medical history and in detecting any criminal correlation or malpractice, a significant decline in autopsies is evident in Iceland. This article gives an overview on autopsy rates in Iceland and compares the situation with European countries.
Topics: Autopsy; Humans; Iceland
PubMed: 30632904
DOI: 10.1177/1403494818820748 -
Surgical Pathology Clinics Jun 2015Many health care providers believe that the autopsy is no longer relevant in high-technology medicine era. This has fueled a decline in the hospital autopsy rate.... (Review)
Review
Many health care providers believe that the autopsy is no longer relevant in high-technology medicine era. This has fueled a decline in the hospital autopsy rate. Although it seems that advanced diagnostic tests answer all clinical questions, studies repeatedly demonstrate that an autopsy uncovers as many undiagnosed conditions today as in the past. The forensic autopsy rate has also declined, although not as precipitously. Pathologists are still performing a nineteenth century autopsy procedure that remains essentially unchanged. Informatics offers several potential answers that will evolve the low-tech autopsy into the high-tech autopsy.
Topics: Autopsy; Clinical Laboratory Information Systems; Humans; United States
PubMed: 26065791
DOI: 10.1016/j.path.2015.02.010 -
Virchows Archiv : An International... Jun 2021This article presents an evaluation of 4255 autopsy cases recorded at the Dusseldorf Pathology Institute in the years 1914 to 1918. Diagnoses were coded according to the...
This article presents an evaluation of 4255 autopsy cases recorded at the Dusseldorf Pathology Institute in the years 1914 to 1918. Diagnoses were coded according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition (ICD-10), and the contemporaneous history of the Pathology Institute was reviewed. We found a proportion of 54.1% adults and 45.5% children in our cohort, with a male predominance of 63.9%. Infectious diseases account for the majority of all cases (35.5%), among which tuberculosis is the most frequent, reported in 22.7% of all cases. The second largest diagnosis group is the one of respiratory diseases (16.9%), including pneumonia and influenza. Cases of perinatal conditions account for 10.5% of the collective, followed by neoplasms, injuries, intoxications, or external causes, each representing 6.6%. Cardiovascular diseases account for 5.3% of the cases. In 4.4% of the pediatric and 0.8% of adult cases, a diagnosis of the ICD-10 group "nutritional and endocrine diseases" was made. No diagnosis of hunger edema is reported. Parts of the cohort are 272 war pathology cases (6.4%), made up by soldiers who mainly had died of shotgun injuries. The whole cohort represents the disease spectrum of a German big city population at times of World War I. The data exemplify the epidemiological shift that has occurred in industrialized countries over the last 100 years, from infectious to neoplastic and cardiovascular diseases.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Autopsy; Cause of Death; Child; Communicable Diseases; Female; History, 19th Century; Humans; Male; Neoplasms; World War I; Young Adult
PubMed: 33411028
DOI: 10.1007/s00428-020-02977-4 -
Clinical Radiology Nov 2023
Topics: Humans; Diagnostic Imaging; Autopsy
PubMed: 37827589
DOI: 10.1016/j.crad.2023.09.001 -
Clinical Radiology Nov 2023Post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) imaging is gaining popularity and acceptance for use alongside forensic autopsies of children, predominantly to aid in the... (Review)
Review
Post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) imaging is gaining popularity and acceptance for use alongside forensic autopsies of children, predominantly to aid in the detection of traumatic injuries. Recent research on this topic has provided a breadth of new information regarding the appropriate usage, imaging guidance, and diagnostic accuracy for the identification of different paediatric pathologies. Additionally, advanced CT imaging techniques, such as PMCT angiography or ventilated PMCT, have been trialled, and post-mortem micro-CT is now being used in specialist centres for the assessment of subtle fractures in extracted bone specimens. Various image post-processing methods (e.g., three-dimensional printing from PMCT imaging data) are being used for the illustration of injuries in the medicolegal setting to a lay audience and provide another avenue for the future of forensic radiology research. In this review, the evidence-based principles and benefits of post-mortem imaging for forensic investigation in childhood deaths are presented, with a particular focus on PMCT and current practices. Variations in forensic imaging strategies around the world, published diagnostic accuracy rates, and expected normal post-mortem imaging findings are discussed, as well as potential future applications and research in this area.
Topics: Humans; Child; Autopsy; Forensic Pathology; Fractures, Bone; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; X-Ray Microtomography
PubMed: 37827594
DOI: 10.1016/j.crad.2023.06.001 -
Irish Journal of Medical Science Apr 2022The aim of this study is to share autopsy findings of COVID-19-positive cases and autopsy algorithms for safely handling of suspicious bodies during this pandemic.
BACKGROUND/AIMS
The aim of this study is to share autopsy findings of COVID-19-positive cases and autopsy algorithms for safely handling of suspicious bodies during this pandemic.
METHODS
COVID-19-positive cases of Istanbul Morgue Department were retrospectively analyzed. Sampling indications for PCR tests in suspicious deaths, macroscopic and microscopic findings obtained in cases with positive PCR tests were evaluated.
RESULTS
In the morgue department, 345(25.8%) of overall 1336 autopsy cases were tested for COVID-19. PCR test was found positive in 26 cases. Limited autopsy procedure was performed in 7 cases, while the cause of death was determined by external examination in the remaining 19 cases. Male-to-female ratio was found 3.3:1 and mean age was 60.0 ± 13.6 among all PCR-positive cases. Cause of death was determined as viral pneumonia in fully autopsied cases. Most common findings were sticky gelatinous fluid in cavities and firm and swollen lungs, varying degrees of consolidation. In microscopy, diffuse alveolar epithelial damage, type-II pneumocyte hyperplasia, hyaline membrane formation, fibrinous exudate, and fibrinous plaques in the alveoli were the most common findings.
CONCLUSIONS
In COVID-19 autopsies, pulmonary findings were found to be prominent and the main pathology was pneumonia. Older age and findings of chronic diseases indicate that the cases were in the multirisk group in terms of COVID-19 mortality.
Topics: Aged; Autopsy; COVID-19; Female; Humans; Lung; Male; Middle Aged; Pneumonia, Viral; Retrospective Studies; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 33755916
DOI: 10.1007/s11845-021-02602-6