Histomorphological Spectrum of Lung Lesions at Autopsy- A Tertiary Care Centre Experience

Abstract

Background: A wide variety of pathological conditions involve the lungs. In autopsy, the lungs are examined for disease, injury and other findings suggesting cause of death or related changes.
Aims & Objectives: The present study aimed to study the histomorphological spectrum of lung lesions at autopsy and to assess the frequency of different types of lesions; and to associate histomorphological changes with cause of death.
Material and Methods: It was a one-year observational study conducted in the Department of Pathology, Govt. Medical College, Jammu. Lung tissue pieces from all medicolegal autopsies received were fixed, examined grossly, processed; paraffin embedded sections obtained were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin stain and examined under microscope. Findings were recorded and tabulated.
Results: Out of 264 cases, males were predominantly affected (84%); median age was 38 years. The various changes observed were congestion (68%), edema (45.4%), pneumonia (5%), granulomatous inflammation (3%), diffuse alveolar damage (1.5%), haemorrhage (14.4%), interstitial changes (60%), malaria (0.4%) and malignancy (0.4%). Natural deaths were the commonest cause (75, 28%) followed by asphyxial deaths (65, 24.6%).
Conclusion: Histopathological examination of lung autopsies highlights many incidental findings, establishes underlying cause of death, serves as a learning tool and also holds scope for detection of newer diseases.