Autopsy

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Autopsy is a part of pathology.

External exam

Is very important in the forensic context.

Internal exam

Is usually where the money is in non-forensic autopsies, i.e. hospital autopsies.

Spleen

Sugar-coated spleen

  • Properly referred to as hyaloserositis of the spleen.
  • Capsule of the spleen is white - resembles sugar-coating.
  • Importance: none - benign.

Liver

  • Portal vein patency.

Kidney

Size of the kidney - small kidneys are seen in chronic renal failure.

Nephrosclerosis

  • Flea-bitten appearance - seen in hypertension.[1]

ATN

  • ATN is difficult to prove on autopsy material.
  • Look for:
    • Heme-granular casts in the lumen.
    • Regenerative activity (mitoses).

Brain

  • One should saw through the skull completely, i.e. one should not crack the skull open with a chisel.

Weird stuff

  • Methylene blue, used for refractory shock,[2] turns organs green.[3]
  • Hyperviscosity syndrome - in leukemia.[4]

Todo

  • Normal organ mass.

See also

References

  1. Ono, H.; Ono, Y. (Nov 1997). "Nephrosclerosis and hypertension.". Med Clin North Am 81 (6): 1273-88. PMID 9356598.
  2. Heemskerk, S.; van Haren, FM.; Foudraine, NA.; Peters, WH.; van der Hoeven, JG.; Russel, FG.; Masereeuw, R.; Pickkers, P. (Feb 2008). "Short-term beneficial effects of methylene blue on kidney damage in septic shock patients.". Intensive Care Med 34 (2): 350-4. doi:10.1007/s00134-007-0867-9. PMID 17926021.
  3. Tan, CD.; Rodriguez, ER.. "Blue dye, green heart.". Cardiovasc Pathol 19 (2): 125-6. doi:10.1016/j.carpath.2008.06.012. PMID 18703358.
  4. http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=18942659

External links