Utility of autopsy in uncovering unexpected neuropathology
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- 作者：Abberly A. Lott Limbach ; Richard A. Prayson
- 关键词：Autopsy ; Discrepant findings ; Neuropathology
- 刊名：Annals of Diagnostic Pathology
- 出版年：2012
- 出版时间：October, 2012
- 年：2012
- 卷：16
- 期：5
- 页码：350-353
- 全文大小：165 K
文摘
Autopsy rates have declined in the last several decades for a variety of reasons. The purpose of this study is to compare autopsy neuropathologic findings from 2 periods to assess the prevalence of unexpected neuropathologic findings and unexpected neuropathologic diagnoses determined to be the major cause of death. Retrospective review of autopsies with examination of the central nervous system was performed in 2007 to 2008 (n = 289) and 1984 to 1985 (n = 328). Unexpected neuropathologic diagnoses were found at autopsy in 42.4 % of cases from 1984 to 1985 vs 38.8 % of cases from 2007 to 2008. The neuropathology was felt to contribute to the cause of death in 22 % of cases from 1984 to 1985 vs 19.7 % of cases from 2007 to 2008. Unexpected neuropathologic findings were the cause of death in 5.2 % of cases from 1984 to 1985 vs 3.1 % of cases from 2007 to 2008. These findings underscore the continued use of brain and spinal cord examination at autopsy despite advances in ¡°modern¡± medicine.