Autopsy Photos Flashcards
In which patients is hypostasis pneumonia seen
Those who are unable to clear secretions from their airways and do not move much
What causes hypostasis pneumonia
Lack of movement and inadequate clearing of secretions means that secretions can gather in the lower lobes and become infected
Which type of pneumonia appears patchy
Bronchopneumonia
Which type of lung cancer appear lymphocytic
Small cell
How do lung cancers cause haemorrhage
They can erode through the pulmonary vessels
This then results in breathing trouble
How do lung cancers cause palsies etc.
They erode or compress the nerves surrounding the lungs/heart
What are the pathological features of acute bronchitis
Striations in the airway caused by smooth muscle hyperplasia
Will have pus in the airways (neutrophil polymorphs)
In which disease might you see emphysematous blebs around the apices of the lungs
COPD
Where do plaques occur in asbestosis
Can occur on chest wall or diaphragm
White plaques in asbestos are very fibrotic - true or false
True
In which types of death will pulmonary oedema be seen
Drowning, head trauma, lung disease
The froth/bubbles seen in pulmonary oedema will disappear soon after death - true or false
True
Have to catch early in order to see it
In which conditions might you see hyperinflated lungs
Asthma or COPD
May also occur if the patient was given CPR
Why might you find air in the stomach on PM
May be seen if the person was given CPR
Air often goes down oesophagus as well, inflating the stomach
How do hyperinflated lungs present on autopsy
They can overlap in the middle
This can obscure the heart
Which disease is suggested by a grainy/sandpaper appearance to heart surface
Pericarditis
What typically causes pericarditis
Usually occurs on it’s own (commonly coxsackie virus)
Can be a result of lung infections moving to the heart
What is an empyema
Pus in the pleural cavity
What causes an empyema
Usually occurs secondary to lung infection but can be a result of penetrating chest trauma or abscesses eroding up from the abdomen
Heart valves from which animals can be used for human valve replacements
Pigs
Where do vegetations develop in endocarditis
On the valves of the heart
A heart infection such as endocarditis can have what effect on valve replacements
The infection can erode the stitches and damage the valve.
Blood then moves through the gaps created.
What happens if a valve replacement is seen as a foreign body
Can trigger clots or inflammatory reactions
Post mortem abrasions in the centre of the chest are common following CPR - true or false
True
What can cause ulceration and/or bruising on the lips (as seen at PM)
May be a result of ET tubes
Why should tubes and cannulas be left in place for autopsy
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)
What can cause circular chest abrasions
Mechanical chest compression machines
May be mistaken for another injury
