Gross descriptions & Dx

Question 1

Decription

Answer 1

• what you see
• precise word picture
• generally the description is not subjective

Question 2

MDx

Answer 2

“interprets” the decription and makes subjective conclusions

Question 3

Why describe the lesions?

Answer 3

• helps figure out what lesion is
• part of medical record
• imparts a great deal of info to the lab/pathologist

Question 4

How to record a description

Answer 4

• clean person
• digital images
• little personal recorder in a bag
• memory (not recommended)
• take the time to review necropsy findings before leaving

Question 5

Features of a description

Answer 5

• number
• size
• location
• distribution
• shape
• color
• consistency
• margins/surface

Question 6

Size

Answer 6

• use an actual measurement or estimate in metric units
• use approximations (width of thumb) then convert
• enlarged, thickened
• size comparisons: orange size, pea size

Question 7

Locations

Answer 7

• SPECIFIC
• kidney: cortex, medulla, pelvis
• lung; cranioventral, dorsal
• skin: head, feet, tail
• position relative to other organs

Question 8

Distribution

Answer 8

• overall a way to state the pattern & extent of lesions
• give a % estimate of total tissue effected

Question 9

Focal

Answer 9

one isolated lesion

Question 10

Multifocal

Answer 10

numerous similar lesions that can be of variable size

Question 11

Diffuse

Answer 11

throughout a large portion of the effected tissue

Question 12

Miliary

Answer 12

type of multifocal where there are numerous pin-point foci

Question 13

What can distibution tell you?

Answer 13

• route of spread

- symetrical- indicates systemic/metabolic cause of the lesion

Question 14

Geometric lesion

Answer 14

involves vasculature

Question 15

Straight line lesion

Answer 15

lesion is following an anatomic structure

Question 16

Raised lesion

Answer 16

something has been added (edema, blood)

Question 17

Depressed lesion

Answer 17

something has been lost (necrosis)

Question 18

Red lesion

Answer 18

hemorrhage (focal), congestions (more difuse/patchy)

Question 19

White lesion

Answer 19

leukocytes, bilirubin, fat, fibrin

Question 20

Green lesion

Answer 20

bile pigment, eosinophils, algal/fungal

Question 21

Black lesion

Answer 21

melanin, fluke pigment, exogenous pigment, decomposition

Question 22

Translucent lesion

Answer 22

mucous, parasite

Question 23

Consistency

Answer 23

• can spread w/ knife = necrosis & exudate
• cant spread w/ knife= viable tissue & cells
• hard is bone; gritty is mineral

Question 24

Well demarcated margins

Answer 24

• the lesion represents a different tissue (tumors)
• infarcts
• chronic lesions w/ fibrous capsule

Question 25

Poorly demarcated margins

Answer 25

- the lesion & adjacent tissue may be similar | - the process is gradually infiltrating into the normal tissue; is poorly contained

Question 26

Features of a MDx | summary of the lesion

Answer 26

- organ - pathological process - distribution - chronicity - severity

Question 27

When you do your necropsy reports:

Answer 27

- provide a description, not interpretation - using the descriptive features discussed today - talk w/ your pathologist to come up w/ a decent MDx