Original Research Article
Year: 2015 | Month: March | Volume: 2 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 79-86
Spectrum of Liver Pathology at Autopsy
Umesh Babu R1, Gayathri B.N2, Harendra Kumar M.L3
1Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Sri Devraj Urs Medical College Tamaka, Kolar, Karnataka, India
2Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences, Madikeri, Kodagu, Karnataka, India
3Professor, Department of Pathology, Sri Devraj Urs Medical College, Tamaka, Kolar, Karnataka, India
Corresponding author: Umesh babu R
ABSTRACT
Background: Most of the chronic liver diseases, even in advanced stages, may cause no prominent clinical signs or symptoms. They either go undiagnosed or are found incidentally during general health check-ups, investigations for other diseases, surgery, or autopsy. The underlying causes of chronic liver diseases vary in different geographic areas and are based on various factors such as socioeconomic status, life style, diet, local or regional infections, and other endemic diseases.
Objectives: To study the spectrum of liver pathology at autopsy
Method: We collected liver samples from 105 cases for histopathological study. Information regarding age, sex, marital status, place, food habit, alcoholic usage and previous history of any disease particularly liver disease etc., were collected from the first degree of the deceased during autopsy in which ever cases possible. Bits form right and left lobe and one bit from deeper areas of the liver was taken. Processed tissue sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin. The cases were analysed by descriptive statistics.
Results: Satisfactory tissue samples for histologic evaluation were available in all the cases with a mean age of 39 years. Normal histology was found in 5 (4.7%) cases. Important findings included steatosis in 24 (22.8%), steatohepatitis in 37 (35.2%), chronic hepatitis in 22 (20.9%), congestion in 10 (9.5%), hepatic granulomas in 4 (3.8%) cases. Causes of death were: Road traffic accident (41.9%), poisoning (24.8%), burns (6.7%), snake bite (5.7%), fall from tree/wall (2.9%).
Conclusion: Silent diseases of the liver are not uncommon. Steatohepatitis and chronic hepatitis comprise a significant finding in our locality.
Key words: autopsy, liver disease, steatohepatitis.