Abstract

Context: Medico-legal autopsy is performed to find out the cause, time of death and identify diseases which could have contributed to the death. Gross and microscopic examination, toxicological analysis and laboratory investigations will aid in establishing the cause of death. Histopathological analysis is considered as the gold standard in finding out a cause of death in cases of sudden death or when there is no history of any previous illness. Methods and Material: Four infant autopsies were conducted and their respective organs which included lungs, liver and brain and were received in our department. Statistical Analysis used: Results were tabulated, analyzed, and subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) Software (Trial version). Results: First case showed fat emboli which was an incidental finding. Second was a case of hyaline membrane disease in a newborn. Third one was a case of steatohepatitis in a 9 month old child and the last one was an incidental finding of gemistocytic astrocytoma which was undiagnosed antemortem. Conclusion: The precise cause of death must be determined with reference to clinical, autopsy, and forensic findings before reporting histopathological finding. Histopathology in autopsy plays a vital role in the study of some of the rare lesions contributing to the knowledge of pathology. This study highlights the various incidental and rare cases in autopsies, which are of critical value in academic and research purposes.

• 1.   Raquel Borges Pinto et al, Cirrhosis in children and adolescents: An overview, in world J Hepatol, 2015 Mar 27; 7(3).
• 2.   Evert A.Eriksson et al, Fat embolism in pediatric patients: An autopsy evaluation of incidence and Etiology, Jornal of critiocal care, Volume 30, Issue 1, February 2015, Pages 221.e1- 221.e5.
• 3.   Christopher D.M. Fletcher MD, FRC Path, in Diagnostic Histopathology of Tumors, 2021 in Tumors of the Central Nervous System.
• 4.   P.D. Stein et al. Fat embolism syndromeAm J Med Sci (2008).
• 5.   Nader LA, de Mattos AA, Bastos GA. Burden of liver disease in Brazil. Liver Int. 2014;34:844–849.
• 6.   Santos JL, Choquette M, Bezerra JA. Cholestatic liver disease in children. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2010;12:30–39.
• 7.   Akira Yoshikawa et al, 2003-2023, pathologyoutlines.com,inc.
• 8.   P.D. Stein et al. Fat embolism syndrome. Am j Med Sci (2008).
• 9.   Brandt SE, Zeegers WS, Ceelen TL. Fatal pulmonary fat embolism after dorsal spinal fusion. Eur Spine J. 1998;7(5):426– 428. doi:10.1007/s005860050102.
• 10.   Heyneman LE, Müller NL. Pulmonary nodules in early fat embolism syndrome: a case report. J Thorac Imaging. 2000;15(1):71–74. doi:10.1097/00005382- 200001000-00014.
• 11.   Tsitsikas DA, Gallinella G, Patel S, Seligman H, Greaves P, Amos RJ. Bone marrow necrosis and fat embolism syndrome in sickle cell disease: increased susceptibility of patients with non-SS genotypes and a possible association with human parvovirus B19 infection. Blood Rev. 2014; 28(1):23–30. doi:10.1016/j.blre. 2013.1.

Data Sharing Statement

Funding