Autopsy

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.

ATN

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

Weird stuff

• Methylene blue, used for refractory shock, turns organs green.

• Leukostasis in acute myelogenous leukemia can lead to congestion of organs and fatal haemorrhages.

• Hyperviscosity syndrome - in leukemia.

Todo

• Normal organ mass.

See also

• Fetal autopsy.
• Forensic pathology.