STUDY OF PREVALENCE OF HISTOPATHOLOGICAL LESIONS IN LUNG AT AUTOPSY

Abstract

Background: In present days, the air pollution and other environmental inhallants, chemical cum toxic substances become uncontrollable, so, the lungs are involved by inflammatory as well as occupational disease. Lungs are also involved in all cases of terminal events due to cardia vascular disease. Thousands of people around the world suffer from preventable lung lesions . The clinical and radiological findings in respiratory diseases are nonspecific and prompt histopathological study is essential. Autopsies are carried out to establish cause of death of the person along with previous antemortem history, investigations and other imaging studies to rule out lung lesions. This study also helps prevalence of pulmonary lesions load in community.

Aims & Objectives: This study was carried out with the objective to study prevalence of different pulmonary lesions in autopsy that are confirmed by histopathological examination.

Methodology: The retrospective study of 200 lung specimens received at autopsy was carried out in the Department of Pathology, SMIMER, Surat. Gross findings and microscopic features were recorded. The tissue specimens were processed and examined microscopically.

Results: A total of 200 lungs from autopsy specimens were studied. Lung diseases are more common in males as compared to females. Most common lung pathological findings are of congestion/oedema/changes interstitium/pulmonary haemorrhage (68.5%), pneumonia (17.5%), tuberculosis (3.5%) followed by other inflammatory lesions (fungal/other granuloma) (4%) and emphysema (1.5%) among the cases studied.

Conclusion: Advances in diagnostic technology have not reduced the value of autopsy and a goal directed autopsy remains a vital component for the study and evaluation of the disease process. Autopsy is an important tool in identifying and understanding of lung disease that helps in evaluation of outcome as well as gives clue for prevention of the same. It also helps to reduce prevalence of lung disease in society by educational counselling as well as periodic medical checkups.