Difference between revisions of "Autopsy"

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'''Autopsy''' was once a mainstay of [[pathology]].  It is now in decline and uncommonly done.  Fetal autopsy is dealt with in a separate article called ''[[fetal autopsy]]''.
'''Autopsy''' was once a mainstay of [[pathology]].  It is now in decline and uncommonly done.  Fetal autopsy is dealt with in a separate article called ''[[fetal autopsy]]''.


==Autopsy checklist==
=Value of autopsy=
A significant number of major findings cannot be diagnosed without histology;<ref name=pmid16324191>{{Cite journal  | last1 = Roulson | first1 = J. | last2 = Benbow | first2 = EW. | last3 = Hasleton | first3 = PS. | title = Discrepancies between clinical and autopsy diagnosis and the value of post mortem histology; a meta-analysis and review. | journal = Histopathology | volume = 47 | issue = 6 | pages = 551-9 | month = Dec | year = 2005 | doi = 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2005.02243.x | PMID = 16324191 }}</ref> thus, without a biopsy or an autopsy they cannot be diagnosed.  Autopsies can be regarded as a form of [[quality control]].
 
One large review in ''JAMA'' suggests that approximately:<ref name=pmid12783916>{{cite journal |author=Brian Gallagher, Burton EC, McDonald KM, Goldman L |title=Changes in rates of autopsy-detected diagnostic errors over time: a systematic review |journal=JAMA |volume=289 |issue=21 |pages=2849–56 |year=2003 |pmid=12783916 |doi=10.1001/jama.289.21.2849}}</ref>
* 25% of autopsies reveal a finding that would have changed clinical management.
* 5% of autopsies reveal a missed [[diagnosis]] that probably affected the outcome.
 
=Autopsy checklist=
===Minimum to proceed===
===Minimum to proceed===
*Death certificate complete.
*Death certificate complete.
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**Expected versus unexpected.
**Expected versus unexpected.


==Value of autopsy==
=Autopsy consent=
A significant number of major findings cannot be diagnosed without histology;<ref name=pmid16324191>{{Cite journal  | last1 = Roulson | first1 = J. | last2 = Benbow | first2 = EW. | last3 = Hasleton | first3 = PS. | title = Discrepancies between clinical and autopsy diagnosis and the value of post mortem histology; a meta-analysis and review. | journal = Histopathology | volume = 47 | issue = 6 | pages = 551-9 | month = Dec | year = 2005 | doi = 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2005.02243.x | PMID = 16324191 }}</ref> thus, without a biopsy or an autopsy they cannot be diagnosed.  Autopsies can be regarded as a form of [[quality control]].
 
One large review in ''JAMA'' suggests that approximately:<ref name=pmid12783916>{{cite journal |author=Brian Gallagher, Burton EC, McDonald KM, Goldman L |title=Changes in rates of autopsy-detected diagnostic errors over time: a systematic review |journal=JAMA |volume=289 |issue=21 |pages=2849–56 |year=2003 |pmid=12783916 |doi=10.1001/jama.289.21.2849}}</ref>
* 25% of autopsies reveal a finding that would have changed clinical management.
* 5% of autopsies reveal a missed [[diagnosis]] that probably affected the outcome.
 
==Autopsy consent==
===General===
===General===
*In a hospital autopsy the ''most important'' thing is: ''proper consent''.
*In a hospital autopsy the ''most important'' thing is: ''proper consent''.
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|}
|}


==External exam==
=External exam=
===General===
===General===
*Very important in the forensic context.
*Very important in the forensic context.
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*External exam findings are found in the ''[[forensic pathology]]'' article.
*External exam findings are found in the ''[[forensic pathology]]'' article.


==Internal exam==
=Internal exam=
===General===
===General===
*This is usually where the money is in hospital autopsies.
*This is usually where the money is in hospital autopsies.
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***May be associated with blood vessel tortuosity.<ref>KC. 14 September 2010.</ref>
***May be associated with blood vessel tortuosity.<ref>KC. 14 September 2010.</ref>


==Normal size parameters==
=Histology=
===Normal organ masses (adult)===
Caucasoid population of 684 adults:<ref name=pmid11376980>{{cite journal |author=de la Grandmaison GL, Clairand I, Durigon M |title=Organ weight in 684 adult autopsies: new tables for a Caucasoid population |journal=Forensic Sci. Int. |volume=119 |issue=2 |pages=149–54 |year=2001 |month=June |pmid=11376980 |doi= |url=}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|
|'''Men'''
|'''Women'''
|-
|'''Heart'''
|365 +/- 71 g
|312 +/- 78 g
|-
|'''Right lung'''
|663 +/- 239 g
|546 +/- 207 g
|-
|'''Left lung'''
|583 +/- 216 g
|467 +/- 174 g
|-
|'''Liver'''
|1677 +/- 396 g
|1475 +/- 362 g
|-
|'''Spleen'''
|156 +/- 87 g
|140 +/- 78 g
|-
|'''Right kidney'''
|162 +/- 39 g
|135 +/- 39 g
|-
|'''Left kidney'''
|160 +/- 41 g
|136 +/- 37 g
|}
 
===Pediatrics===
{{Main|Growth charts}}
 
==Histology==
===General===
===General===
It's the at the pathologists discretion.  In ''decomp'' cases it is reasonable to submit nothing.
It's the at the pathologists discretion.  In ''decomp'' cases it is reasonable to submit nothing.
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*Muscle.
*Muscle.
*[[Lymph nodes]].
*[[Lymph nodes]].
=Autopsy report=
==Normal size parameters==
===Normal organ masses (adult)===
Caucasoid population of 684 adults:<ref name=pmid11376980>{{cite journal |author=de la Grandmaison GL, Clairand I, Durigon M |title=Organ weight in 684 adult autopsies: new tables for a Caucasoid population |journal=Forensic Sci. Int. |volume=119 |issue=2 |pages=149–54 |year=2001 |month=June |pmid=11376980 |doi= |url=}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|
|'''Men'''
|'''Women'''
|-
|'''Heart'''
|365 +/- 71 g
|312 +/- 78 g
|-
|'''Right lung'''
|663 +/- 239 g
|546 +/- 207 g
|-
|'''Left lung'''
|583 +/- 216 g
|467 +/- 174 g
|-
|'''Liver'''
|1677 +/- 396 g
|1475 +/- 362 g
|-
|'''Spleen'''
|156 +/- 87 g
|140 +/- 78 g
|-
|'''Right kidney'''
|162 +/- 39 g
|135 +/- 39 g
|-
|'''Left kidney'''
|160 +/- 41 g
|136 +/- 37 g
|}
===Pediatrics===
{{Main|Growth charts}}


==Negative autopsy==
==Negative autopsy==
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*[[Sudden infant death syndrome]].
*[[Sudden infant death syndrome]].


==See also==
=See also=
*[[Fetal autopsy]].
*[[Fetal autopsy]].
*[[Forensic pathology]].
*[[Forensic pathology]].


==References==
=References=
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist|2}}


==External links==
=External links=


[[Category:Autopsy]]
[[Category:Autopsy]]
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