Autopsy Photos

Question 1

In which patients is hypostasis pneumonia seen

Answer 1

Those who are unable to clear secretions from their airways and do not move much

Question 2

What causes hypostasis pneumonia

Answer 2

Lack of movement and inadequate clearing of secretions means that secretions can gather in the lower lobes and become infected

Question 3

Which type of pneumonia appears patchy

Answer 3

Bronchopneumonia

Question 4

Which type of lung cancer appear lymphocytic

Answer 4

Small cell

Question 5

How do lung cancers cause haemorrhage

Answer 5

They can erode through the pulmonary vessels

This then results in breathing trouble

Question 6

How do lung cancers cause palsies etc.

Answer 6

They erode or compress the nerves surrounding the lungs/heart

Question 7

What are the pathological features of acute bronchitis

Answer 7

Striations in the airway caused by smooth muscle hyperplasia
Will have pus in the airways (neutrophil polymorphs)

Question 8

In which disease might you see emphysematous blebs around the apices of the lungs

Answer 8

COPD

Question 9

Where do plaques occur in asbestosis

Answer 9

Can occur on chest wall or diaphragm

Question 10

White plaques in asbestos are very fibrotic - true or false

Answer 10

True

Question 11

In which types of death will pulmonary oedema be seen

Answer 11

Drowning, head trauma, lung disease

Question 12

The froth/bubbles seen in pulmonary oedema will disappear soon after death - true or false

Answer 12

True

Have to catch early in order to see it

Question 13

In which conditions might you see hyperinflated lungs

Answer 13

Asthma or COPD

May also occur if the patient was given CPR

Question 14

Why might you find air in the stomach on PM

Answer 14

May be seen if the person was given CPR

Air often goes down oesophagus as well, inflating the stomach

Question 15

How do hyperinflated lungs present on autopsy

Answer 15

They can overlap in the middle

This can obscure the heart

Question 16

Which disease is suggested by a grainy/sandpaper appearance to heart surface

Answer 16

Pericarditis

Question 17

What typically causes pericarditis

Answer 17

Usually occurs on it’s own (commonly coxsackie virus)

Can be a result of lung infections moving to the heart

Question 18

What is an empyema

Answer 18

Pus in the pleural cavity

Question 19

What causes an empyema

Answer 19

Usually occurs secondary to lung infection but can be a result of penetrating chest trauma or abscesses eroding up from the abdomen

Question 20

Heart valves from which animals can be used for human valve replacements

Answer 20

Pigs

Question 21

Where do vegetations develop in endocarditis

Answer 21

On the valves of the heart

Question 22

A heart infection such as endocarditis can have what effect on valve replacements

Answer 22

The infection can erode the stitches and damage the valve.

Blood then moves through the gaps created.

Question 23

What happens if a valve replacement is seen as a foreign body

Answer 23

Can trigger clots or inflammatory reactions

Question 24

Post mortem abrasions in the centre of the chest are common following CPR - true or false

Answer 24

True

Question 25

What can cause ulceration and/or bruising on the lips (as seen at PM)

Answer 25

May be a result of ET tubes

Question 26

Why should tubes and cannulas be left in place for autopsy

Answer 26

Allows the pathologist to check it is in the correct place and account for any iatrogenic injury (e.g. needle marks on skin or bruising of mouth)

Question 27

What can cause circular chest abrasions

Answer 27

Mechanical chest compression machines

May be mistaken for another injury