Histomorphological Spectrum of Various Systems in Sudden Death and Its Correlation With Cause of Death: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Autopsy Study From a Tertiary Care Centre in Odisha.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51168/gnh87124Cuvinte cheie:
sudden deaths, autopsy, histopathology, medicolegal autopsy, histomorphology, cause of deathRezumat
Introduction:
Sudden death remains a significant medicolegal challenge, and determining its underlying cause may be difficult without detailed autopsy examination. Histopathological evaluation can identify significant pathological changes that may remain undetected during routine medicolegal examination.
Aim:
To identify the causes of sudden death, assess histomorphological changes in various organ systems, and correlate pathological findings with the medicolegal cause of death.
Materials and Methods:
This prospective cross-sectional autopsy study was conducted in the Department of Pathology, Fakir Mohan Medical College, Balasore, Odisha, from June 2022 to May 2025. A total of 30 consecutive cases of sudden, non-traumatic deaths were included. Demographic details, clinical history, medicolegal cause of death, gross autopsy findings, and histomorphological findings were recorded and analyzed using descriptive statistics.
Results:
Among the 30 cases, the most common age group was 21–40 years, with a mean age of approximately 39 years. The cardiovascular system was the most frequently involved system (33.3%), followed by the hepatobiliary system (26.6%). The commonest pathological finding was hepatic steatosis (26.6%), followed by petechial hemorrhage and pulmonary congestion (22% each), while myocardial infarction was identified in 16% of cases. The medicolegal cause of death was inconclusive in 26.6% of cases, and discrepancy between medicolegal and pathological causes was observed in 20% of cases.
Conclusion:
Histopathological examination provides valuable additional information in sudden deaths and may help establish or clarify the cause of death when routine medicolegal autopsy findings are inconclusive.
Recommendation:
Routine histopathological examination should be considered in sudden and unexplained medicolegal deaths to improve diagnostic accuracy and identify clinically unsuspected pathological conditions.
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