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Molinengo L, Estrin-Serlui T, Hanley B, Osborn M, Goldin R. Infectious diseases and the role of needle biopsy post-mortem. THE LANCET. MICROBE 2024; 5:707-716. [PMID: 38604206 DOI: 10.1016/s2666-5247(24)00044-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Post-mortem examinations continue to play a crucial role in understanding the epidemiology and pathogenesis of infectious diseases. However, the perceived infection risk can preclude traditional, invasive, complete diagnostic autopsy. Post-mortem examination is especially important in emerging infectious diseases with potentially unknown infection risks, but rapid acquisition of good quality tissue samples is needed as part of the scientific and public health response. Needle biopsy post-mortem is a minimally invasive, rapid, closed-body autopsy technique that was originally developed to minimise the infection risk to practitioners. Since its inception, needle biopsy post-mortem has also been used as a technique to support complete diagnostic autopsy provision in poorly resourced regions and to facilitate post-mortem examinations in communities that might have religious or cultural objections to an invasive autopsy. This Review analyses the evolution and applicability of needle biopsy post-mortem in investigating endemic and emerging infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Molinengo
- Cellular Pathology Department, Northwest London Pathology hosted by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK.
| | - Theodore Estrin-Serlui
- Cellular Pathology Department, Northwest London Pathology hosted by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK
| | - Brian Hanley
- Cellular Pathology Department, Northwest London Pathology hosted by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK; Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK; Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, South Kensington Campus, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Michael Osborn
- Cellular Pathology Department, Northwest London Pathology hosted by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK
| | - Robert Goldin
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, South Kensington Campus, Imperial College, London, UK
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Lahmer T, Weirich G, Porubsky S, Rasch S, Kammerstetter FA, Schustetter C, Schüffler P, Erber J, Dibos M, Delbridge C, Kuhn PH, Jeske S, Steinhardt M, Chaker A, Heim M, Heemann U, Schmid RM, Weichert W, Stock KF, Slotta-Huspenina J. Postmortem Minimally Invasive Autopsy in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients at the Bedside: A Proof-of-Concept Study at the ICU. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:294. [PMID: 38337812 PMCID: PMC10854968 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14030294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Economic restrictions and workforce cuts have continually challenged conventional autopsies. Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has added tissue quality and safety requirements to the investigation of this disease, thereby launching efforts to upgrade autopsy strategies. METHODS In this proof-of-concept study, we performed bedside ultrasound-guided minimally invasive autopsy (US-MIA) in the ICU of critically ill COVID-19 patients using a structured protocol to obtain non-autolyzed tissue. Biopsies were assessed for their quality (vitality) and length of biopsy (mm) and for diagnosis. The efficiency of the procedure was monitored in five cases by recording the time of each step and safety issues by swabbing personal protective equipment and devices for viral contamination. FINDINGS Ultrasound examination and tissue procurement required a mean time period of 13 min and 54 min, respectively. A total of 318 multiorgan biopsies were obtained from five patients. Quality and vitality standards were fulfilled, which not only allowed for specific histopathological diagnosis but also the reliable detection of SARS-CoV-2 virions in unexpected organs using electronic microscopy and RNA-expressing techniques. INTERPRETATION Bedside multidisciplinary US-MIA allows for the fast and efficient acquisition of autolytic-free tissue and offers unappreciated potential to overcome the limitations of research in postmortem studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Lahmer
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (S.R.); (J.E.); (M.D.); (R.M.S.)
| | - Gregor Weirich
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (G.W.); (F.A.K.); (C.S.); (P.S.); (C.D.); (P.H.K.); (W.W.); (J.S.-H.)
| | - Stefan Porubsky
- Institut für Pathologie, Universitätsklinikum Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany;
| | - Sebastian Rasch
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (S.R.); (J.E.); (M.D.); (R.M.S.)
| | - Florian A. Kammerstetter
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (G.W.); (F.A.K.); (C.S.); (P.S.); (C.D.); (P.H.K.); (W.W.); (J.S.-H.)
| | - Christian Schustetter
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (G.W.); (F.A.K.); (C.S.); (P.S.); (C.D.); (P.H.K.); (W.W.); (J.S.-H.)
| | - Peter Schüffler
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (G.W.); (F.A.K.); (C.S.); (P.S.); (C.D.); (P.H.K.); (W.W.); (J.S.-H.)
| | - Johanna Erber
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (S.R.); (J.E.); (M.D.); (R.M.S.)
| | - Miriam Dibos
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (S.R.); (J.E.); (M.D.); (R.M.S.)
| | - Claire Delbridge
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (G.W.); (F.A.K.); (C.S.); (P.S.); (C.D.); (P.H.K.); (W.W.); (J.S.-H.)
| | - Peer Hendrik Kuhn
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (G.W.); (F.A.K.); (C.S.); (P.S.); (C.D.); (P.H.K.); (W.W.); (J.S.-H.)
| | - Samuel Jeske
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich/Helmholtz Zentrum München, Trogerstraße 30, 81675 Munich, Germany;
| | - Manuel Steinhardt
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany;
| | - Adam Chaker
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany;
| | - Markus Heim
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Medicine, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany;
| | - Uwe Heemann
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (U.H.); (K.F.S.)
| | - Roland M. Schmid
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (S.R.); (J.E.); (M.D.); (R.M.S.)
| | - Wilko Weichert
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (G.W.); (F.A.K.); (C.S.); (P.S.); (C.D.); (P.H.K.); (W.W.); (J.S.-H.)
| | - Konrad Friedrich Stock
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (U.H.); (K.F.S.)
| | - Julia Slotta-Huspenina
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (G.W.); (F.A.K.); (C.S.); (P.S.); (C.D.); (P.H.K.); (W.W.); (J.S.-H.)
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3
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Duarte-Neto AN, Ferraz da Silva LF, Monteiro RADA, Theodoro Filho J, Leite TLLF, de Moura CS, Gomes-Gouvêa MS, Pinho JRR, Kanamura CT, de Oliveria EP, Bispo KCS, Arruda C, Dos Santos AB, Aquino FCG, Caldini EG, Mauad T, Saldiva PHN, Dolhnikoff M. Ultrasound-Guided Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling: A Minimally Invasive Autopsy Strategy During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil, 2020. Clin Infect Dis 2021; 73:S442-S453. [PMID: 34910174 PMCID: PMC8672862 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciab885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Minimally invasive autopsies, also known as minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS), have proven to be an alternative to complete diagnostic autopsies (CDAs) in places or situations where this procedure cannot be performed. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, CDAs were suspended by March 2020 in Brazil to reduce biohazard. To contribute to the understanding of COVID-19 pathology, we have conducted ultrasound (US)-guided MITS as a strategy. METHODS This case series study includes 80 autopsies performed in patients with COVID-19 confirmed by laboratorial tests. Different organs were sampled using a standardized MITS protocol. Tissues were submitted to histopathological analysis as well as immunohistochemical and molecular analysis and electron microscopy in selected cases. RESULTS US-guided MITS proved to be a safe and highly accurate procedure; none of the personnel were infected, and accuracy ranged from 69.1% for kidney, up to 90.1% for lungs, and reaching 98.7% and 97.5% for liver and heart, respectively. US-guided MITS provided a systemic view of the disease, describing the most common pathological findings and identifying viral and other infectious agents using ancillary techniques, and also allowed COVID-19 diagnosis confirmation in 5% of the cases that were negative in premortem and postmortem nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swab real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. CONCLUSIONS Our data showed that US-guided MITS has the capacity similar to CDA not only to identify but also to characterize emergent diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaro Nunes Duarte-Neto
- Brazilian Image Autopsy Study Group, Departamento de Patologia, Laboratório de Investigação Médica 05, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luiz Fernando Ferraz da Silva
- Brazilian Image Autopsy Study Group, Departamento de Patologia, Laboratório de Investigação Médica 05, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Serviço de Verificação de Óbitos da Capital, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Renata Aparecida de Almeida Monteiro
- Brazilian Image Autopsy Study Group, Departamento de Patologia, Laboratório de Investigação Médica 05, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jair Theodoro Filho
- Brazilian Image Autopsy Study Group, Departamento de Patologia, Laboratório de Investigação Médica 05, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thabata Larissa Luciano Ferreira Leite
- Brazilian Image Autopsy Study Group, Departamento de Patologia, Laboratório de Investigação Médica 05, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Catia Sales de Moura
- Brazilian Image Autopsy Study Group, Departamento de Patologia, Laboratório de Investigação Médica 05, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Kely Cristina Soares Bispo
- Brazilian Image Autopsy Study Group, Departamento de Patologia, Laboratório de Investigação Médica 05, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cássia Arruda
- Brazilian Image Autopsy Study Group, Departamento de Patologia, Laboratório de Investigação Médica 05, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Aline Brito Dos Santos
- Brazilian Image Autopsy Study Group, Departamento de Patologia, Laboratório de Investigação Médica 05, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Flavia Cristina Gonçalves Aquino
- Brazilian Image Autopsy Study Group, Departamento de Patologia, Laboratório de Investigação Médica 05, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Elia Garcia Caldini
- Brazilian Image Autopsy Study Group, Departamento de Patologia, Laboratório de Investigação Médica 05, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Departamento de Patologia, Laboratório de Investigação Médica 59, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thais Mauad
- Brazilian Image Autopsy Study Group, Departamento de Patologia, Laboratório de Investigação Médica 05, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Paulo Hilário Nascimento Saldiva
- Brazilian Image Autopsy Study Group, Departamento de Patologia, Laboratório de Investigação Médica 05, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marisa Dolhnikoff
- Brazilian Image Autopsy Study Group, Departamento de Patologia, Laboratório de Investigação Médica 05, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Möbius D, Fitzek A, Hammer N, Heinemann A, Ron A, Schädler J, Zwirner J, Ondruschka B. Ultrasound in legal medicine-a missed opportunity or simply too late? A narrative review of ultrasonic applications in forensic contexts. Int J Legal Med 2021; 135:2363-2383. [PMID: 34292383 PMCID: PMC8295453 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-021-02661-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Objectives Conventional autopsies remain the gold standard of postmortem healthcare quality assurance and help gathering extended knowledge on diseases. In answer to constantly declining autopsy rates non- or minimally invasive autopsy methods were introduced. Ultrasound is a well-established tool for imaging commonly used in clinical practice. This narrative review aims to summarize the current literature regarding the feasibility and validity of ultrasound in a forensic context. Material and methods A PubMed database search was carried out. Abstracts were scanned for pre-defined ex- and inclusion criteria, followed by a snowball search procedure applied to the primarily included articles. Results Forty-five publications met our inclusion criteria. The selected articles concern the feasibility of ultrasound in pre- or postmortem settings, forensic age estimation, and minimally invasive approaches. For imaging, ultrasound was deemed a reliable tool for the examination of epiphyses und superficial wounds, with limitations regarding internal organs and image quality due to postmortem changes. Ultrasound-guided minimally invasive approaches yielded higher success rates for adequate tissue sampling. Many investigations were carried out in low- and middle-income countries focusing on infectious diseases. Conclusion Ultrasound seems a promising but underutilized imaging tool in legal medicine to date. Promising approaches on its feasibility have been conducted. Especially for minimally invasive methods, ultrasound offered significant improvements on qualified biopsy sampling and thus appropriate diagnostics. Moreover, ultrasonic evaluation of epiphyses for age estimation offered valuable results. Nevertheless, further assessment of ultrasonic feasibility in forensic contexts is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dustin Möbius
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Antonia Fitzek
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Niels Hammer
- Institute of Macroscopic and Clinical Anatomy, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.,Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Fraunhofer IWU, Dresden, Germany
| | - Axel Heinemann
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Alexandra Ron
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Julia Schädler
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Johann Zwirner
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Benjamin Ondruschka
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
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5
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Paganelli CR, Goco NJ, McClure EM, Banke KK, Blau DM, Breiman RF, Menéndez C, Rakislova N, Bassat Q. The evolution of minimally invasive tissue sampling in postmortem examination: a narrative review. Glob Health Action 2021; 13:1792682. [PMID: 32713325 PMCID: PMC7480574 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2020.1792682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Because of low acceptance rates and limited capacity, complete diagnostic autopsies (CDAs) are seldom conducted in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). There have been growing investments in less-invasive postmortem examination methodologies, including needle-based autopsy, known as minimally invasive autopsy or minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS). MITS has been shown to be a feasible and informative alternative to CDA for cause of death investigation and mortality surveillance purposes. OBJECTIVE The aim of this narrative review is to describe historical use and evolution of needle-based postmortem procedures as a tool to ascertain the cause of death, especially in LMICs. METHODS Key word searches were conducted in PubMed and EBSCO in 2018 and 2019. Abstracts were reviewed against inclusion and exclusion criteria. Full publications were reviewed for those abstracts meeting inclusion criteria and a start set was established. A snowball search methodology was used and references for all publications meeting inclusion criteria were manually reviewed until saturation was reached. RESULTS A total of 1,177 publications were initially screened. Following an iterative review of references, 79 publications were included in this review. Twenty-nine studies, published between 1955 and 2019, included MITS as part of postmortem examination. Of the publications included, 76% (60/79) have publication dates after 2010. More than 60% of all publications included addressed MITS in LMICs, and a total of nine publications compared MITS with CDA. CONCLUSIONS Although there is evidence of less-invasive postmortem sampling starting in the 1800s, more structured needle-based postmortem examination publications started to appear in the mid-twentieth century. Early studies were mostly conducted in high-income countries but starting in 2010 the number of publications began to increase, and a growing number of studies were conducted in LMICs. Initial studies in LMICs were disease-specific but since 2015 have evolved to include more expansive postmortem examination.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kathryn K Banke
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Dianna M Blau
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Robert F Breiman
- Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University , Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Clara Menéndez
- ISGlobal Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona, Spain
| | - Natalia Rakislova
- ISGlobal Department of Pathology Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona, Spain
| | - Quique Bassat
- ISGlobal Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona, Spain
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Karat AS, Omar T, Tlali M, Charalambous S, Chihota VN, Churchyard GJ, Fielding KL, Martinson NA, McCarthy KM, Grant AD. Lessons learnt conducting minimally invasive autopsies in private mortuaries as part of HIV and tuberculosis research in South Africa. Public Health Action 2019; 9:186-190. [PMID: 32042614 DOI: 10.5588/pha.19.0032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Current estimates of the burden of tuberculosis (TB) disease and cause-specific mortality in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive people rely heavily on indirect methods that are less reliable for ascertaining individual-level causes of death and on mathematical models. Minimally invasive autopsy (MIA) is useful for diagnosing infectious diseases, provides a reasonable proxy for the gold standard in cause of death ascertainment (complete diagnostic autopsy) and, used routinely, could improve cause-specific mortality estimates. From our experience in performing MIAs in HIV-positive adults in private mortuaries in South Africa (during the Lesedi Kamoso Study), we describe the challenges we faced and make recommendations for the conduct of MIA in future studies or surveillance programmes, including strategies for effective communication, approaches to obtaining informed consent, risk management for staff and efficient preparation for the procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- A S Karat
- TB Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - T Omar
- Division of Anatomical Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - M Tlali
- The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - S Charalambous
- The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa.,School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - V N Chihota
- The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa.,School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - G J Churchyard
- TB Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa.,School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - K L Fielding
- TB Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - N A Martinson
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit, and South African Medical Research Council Soweto Matlosana Collaborating Centre for HIV/AIDS and TB, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Johns Hopkins University Center for TB Research, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - K M McCarthy
- The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa.,School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Division of Public Health, Surveillance and Response, National Institute for Communicable Disease of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - A D Grant
- TB Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Africa Health Research Institute, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
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7
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Latten BG, Bakers FC, Hofman PA, zur Hausen A, Kubat B. The needle in the haystack: Histology of post-mortem computed tomography guided biopsies versus autopsy derived tissue. Forensic Sci Int 2019; 302:109882. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.109882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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8
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Roberts DJ, Njuguna HN, Fields B, Fligner CL, Zaki SR, Keating MK, Rogena E, Walong E, Gachii AK, Maleche-Obimbo E, Irimu G, Mathaiya J, Orata N, Lopokoiyit R, Michuki J, Emukule GO, Onyango CO, Gikunju S, Owuor C, Muturi PK, Bunei M, Widdowson MA, Mott JA, Chaves SS. Comparison of Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling With Conventional Autopsy to Detect Pulmonary Pathology Among Respiratory Deaths in a Resource-Limited Setting. Am J Clin Pathol 2019; 152:36-49. [PMID: 31006817 DOI: 10.1093/ajcp/aqz016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We compared minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS) with conventional autopsy (CA) in detection of respiratory pathology/pathogens among Kenyan children younger than 5 years who were hospitalized with respiratory disease and died during hospitalization. METHODS Pulmonary MITS guided by anatomic landmarks was followed by CA. Lung tissues were triaged for histology and molecular testing using TaqMan Array Cards (TACs). MITS and CA results were compared for adequacy and concordance. RESULTS Adequate pulmonary tissue was obtained by MITS from 54 (84%) of 64 respiratory deaths. Comparing MITS to CA, full histologic diagnostic concordance was present in 23 (36%) cases and partial concordance in 19 (30%), an overall 66% concordance rate. Pathogen detection using TACs had full concordance in 27 (42%) and partial concordance in 24 (38%) cases investigated, an overall 80% concordance rate. CONCLUSIONS MITS is a viable alternative to CA in respiratory deaths in resource-limited settings, especially if combined with ancillary tests to optimize diagnostic accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Henry N Njuguna
- Division of Global Health Protection, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Barry Fields
- Division of Global Health Protection, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | | | - Sherif R Zaki
- Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Infectious Diseases Pathology Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | - M Kelly Keating
- Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Infectious Diseases Pathology Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Gideon O Emukule
- Division of Global Health Protection, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Clayton O Onyango
- Division of Global Health Protection, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Stella Gikunju
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Collins Owuor
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | | | - Marc-Alain Widdowson
- Division of Global Health Protection, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nairobi, Kenya
- Division of Global Health Protection, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | - Joshua A Mott
- Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | - Sandra S Chaves
- Division of Global Health Protection, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nairobi, Kenya
- Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
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Abstract
This study aimed to assess the application of ultrasonography for preoperative diagnosis of retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF). A total of 51 patients with clinically suspected RPF underwent transabdominal ultrasonography and ultrasound-guided histopathologic biopsy (tAU-UGHB). Retroperitoneal fibrosis was diagnosed in 35 patients; of these, 31 cases (88.6%) received a diagnosis using tAU-UGHB. The ultrasonographic images mainly showed solid, irregular isoechoic masses, which were present behind the retroperitoneum and surrounded the abdominal aorta, inferior vena cava, and ureters and had clear borders with the encapsulated structures. Compared with other retroperitoneal lesions, RPF lesions were mainly located below the initial level of the renal artery, and their internal flow signals were not rich (P < 0.05). Retroperitoneal fibrosis had characteristic ultrasonographic features, and color Doppler ultrasound-guided biopsy could be positioned accurately, safely, and efficiently; therefore, tAU-UGHB can be used as an effective modality for preoperative diagnosis of RPF.
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10
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Das A, Chowdhury R. Searching cause of death through different autopsy methods: A new initiative. J Family Med Prim Care 2017; 6:191-195. [PMID: 29302514 PMCID: PMC5749053 DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_194_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
A lawful disposal of human dead body is only possible after establishment of proper and valid cause of death. If the cause is obscure, autopsy is the only mean of search. Inadequacy and unavailability of health care facility often makes this situation more complicated in developing countries where many deaths remain unexplained and proper mortality statistics is missing, especially for infant and children. Tissue sampling by needle autopsy or use of various imaging technique in virtopsy have been tried globally to find out an easier alternative. An exclusive and unique initiative, by limited autopsy through tissue biopsy and body fluid analysis, has been taken to meet this dire need in African and some of Asian developing countries, as worldwide accepted institutional data are even missing or conflicting at times. Traditional autopsy has changed little in last century, consisting of external examination and evisceration, dissection of organs with identification of macroscopic pathologies and injuries, followed by histopathology. As some population groups have religious objections to autopsy, demand for minimally invasive alternative has increased of late. But assessment of cause of death is most important for medico-legal, epidemiological and research purposes. Thus minimally invasive technique is of high importance in primary care settings too. In this article, we have made a journey through different autopsy methods, their relevance and applicability in modern day perspective considering scientific research articles, textbooks and interviews.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Das
- Department of Forensic and State Medicine, Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
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11
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Castillo P, Martínez MJ, Ussene E, Jordao D, Lovane L, Ismail MR, Carrilho C, Lorenzoni C, Fernandes F, Bene R, Palhares A, Ferreira L, Lacerda M, Mandomando I, Vila J, Hurtado JC, Munguambe K, Maixenchs M, Sanz A, Quintó L, Macete E, Alonso P, Bassat Q, Menéndez C, Ordi J. Validity of a Minimally Invasive Autopsy for Cause of Death Determination in Adults in Mozambique: An Observational Study. PLoS Med 2016; 13:e1002171. [PMID: 27875530 PMCID: PMC5119723 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is an urgent need to identify tools able to provide reliable information on the cause of death in low-income regions, since current methods (verbal autopsy, clinical records, and complete autopsies) are either inaccurate, not feasible, or poorly accepted. We aimed to compare the performance of a standardized minimally invasive autopsy (MIA) approach with that of the gold standard, the complete diagnostic autopsy (CDA), in a series of adults who died at Maputo Central Hospital in Mozambique. METHODS AND FINDINGS In this observational study, coupled MIAs and CDAs were performed in 112 deceased patients. The MIA analyses were done blindly, without knowledge of the clinical data or the results of the CDA. We compared the MIA diagnosis with the CDA diagnosis of cause of death. CDA diagnoses comprised infectious diseases (80; 71.4%), malignant tumors (16; 14.3%), and other diseases, including non-infectious cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, kidney, and lung diseases (16; 14.3%). A MIA diagnosis was obtained in 100/112 (89.2%) cases. The overall concordance between the MIA diagnosis and CDA diagnosis was 75.9% (85/112). The concordance was higher for infectious diseases and malignant tumors (63/80 [78.8%] and 13/16 [81.3%], respectively) than for other diseases (9/16; 56.2%). The specific microorganisms causing death were identified in the MIA in 62/74 (83.8%) of the infectious disease deaths with a recognized cause. The main limitation of the analysis is that both the MIA and the CDA include some degree of expert subjective interpretation. CONCLUSIONS A simple MIA procedure can identify the cause of death in many adult deaths in Mozambique. This tool could have a major role in improving the understanding and surveillance of causes of death in areas where infectious diseases are a common cause of mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Castillo
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miguel J Martínez
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Microbiology, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Esperança Ussene
- Department of Pathology, Maputo Central Hospital, Maputo, Mozambique.,Faculty of Medicine, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Dercio Jordao
- Department of Pathology, Maputo Central Hospital, Maputo, Mozambique.,Faculty of Medicine, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Lucilia Lovane
- Department of Pathology, Maputo Central Hospital, Maputo, Mozambique.,Faculty of Medicine, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Mamudo R Ismail
- Department of Pathology, Maputo Central Hospital, Maputo, Mozambique.,Faculty of Medicine, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Carla Carrilho
- Department of Pathology, Maputo Central Hospital, Maputo, Mozambique.,Faculty of Medicine, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Cesaltina Lorenzoni
- Department of Pathology, Maputo Central Hospital, Maputo, Mozambique.,Faculty of Medicine, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Fabiola Fernandes
- Department of Pathology, Maputo Central Hospital, Maputo, Mozambique.,Faculty of Medicine, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Rosa Bene
- Department of Medicine, Maputo Central Hospital, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Antonio Palhares
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Doutor Heitor Viera Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Luiz Ferreira
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Doutor Heitor Viera Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Marcus Lacerda
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Doutor Heitor Viera Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | | | - Jordi Vila
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Microbiology, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Carlos Hurtado
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Microbiology, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Maria Maixenchs
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Ariadna Sanz
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Llorenç Quintó
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eusebio Macete
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Pedro Alonso
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Quique Bassat
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Maputo, Mozambique.,Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Clara Menéndez
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Jaume Ordi
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Pathology, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Becker DM, Tafoya CA, Becker SL, Kruger GH, Tafoya MJ, Becker TK. The use of portable ultrasound devices in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review of the literature. Trop Med Int Health 2016; 21:294-311. [PMID: 26683523 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.12657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To review the scientific literature pertaining to the use of hand-carried and hand-held ultrasound devices in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), with a focus on clinical applications, geographical areas of use, the impact on patient management and technical features of the devices used. METHODS The electronic databases PubMed and Google Scholar were searched. No language or date restrictions were applied. Case reports and original research describing the use of hand-carried ultrasound devices in LMIC were included if agreed upon as relevant by two-reviewer consensus based on our predefined research questions. RESULTS A total of 644 articles were found and screened, and 36 manuscripts were included for final review. Twenty-seven studies were original research articles, and nine were case reports. Several reports describe the successful diagnosis and management of difficult, often life-threatening conditions, using hand-carried and hand-held ultrasound. These portable ultrasound devices have also been studied for cardiac screening exams, as well as a rapid triage tool in rural areas and after natural disaster. Most applications focus on obstetrical and abdominal complaints. Portable ultrasound may have an impact on clinical management in up to 70% of all cases. However, no randomised controlled trials have evaluated the impact of ultrasound-guided diagnosis and treatment in resource-constrained settings. The exclusion of articles published in journals not listed in the large databases may have biased our results. Our findings are limited by the lack of higher quality evidence (e.g. controlled trials). CONCLUSIONS Hand-carried and hand-held ultrasound is successfully being used to triage, diagnose and treat patients with a variety of complaints in LMIC. However, the quality of the current evidence is low. There is an urgent need to perform larger clinical trials assessing the impact of hand-carried ultrasound in LMIC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawn M Becker
- Department of Internal Medicine, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Ann Arbor - St. Joseph Mercy Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Sören L Becker
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Grant H Kruger
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Torben K Becker
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Nelson AM, Milner DA, Rebbeck TR, Iliyasu Y. Oncologic Care and Pathology Resources in Africa: Survey and Recommendations. J Clin Oncol 2015; 34:20-6. [PMID: 26578619 DOI: 10.1200/jco.2015.61.9767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The connection of a clinician who identifies a patient with signs and symptoms of malignancy to an oncologist who has the tools to treat a patient's cancer requires a diagnostic pathology laboratory to receive, process, and diagnose the tumor. Without an accurate classification, nothing is known of diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment by the clinical team, and most important, the patient is left scared, confused, and without hope. The vast majority of deaths from malignancies occur in sub-Saharan Africa primarily as a result of lack of public awareness of cancer and how it is diagnosed and treated in the setting of a severe lack of resources (physical and personnel) to actually diagnose tumors. To correct this massive health disparity, a plan of action is required across the continent of Africa to bring diagnostic medicine into the modern era and connect patients with the care they desperately need. We performed a survey of resources in Africa for tissue diagnosis of cancer and asked quantitative questions about tools, personnel, and utilization. We identified a strong correlation between pathology staffing and capacity to provide pathology services. On the basis of this survey and through a congress of concerned pathologists, we propose strategies that will catapult the continent into an era of high-quality pathology services with resultant improvement in cancer outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann M Nelson
- Ann M. Nelson, Joint Pathology Center, Silver Spring, MD; Danny A. Milner, Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA; Timothy R. Rebbeck, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA; and Yawale Iliyasu, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | - Danny A Milner
- Ann M. Nelson, Joint Pathology Center, Silver Spring, MD; Danny A. Milner, Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA; Timothy R. Rebbeck, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA; and Yawale Iliyasu, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | - Timothy R Rebbeck
- Ann M. Nelson, Joint Pathology Center, Silver Spring, MD; Danny A. Milner, Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA; Timothy R. Rebbeck, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA; and Yawale Iliyasu, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
| | - Yawale Iliyasu
- Ann M. Nelson, Joint Pathology Center, Silver Spring, MD; Danny A. Milner, Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA; Timothy R. Rebbeck, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA; and Yawale Iliyasu, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
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14
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Val-Bernal JF. [The current role of autopsy in current clinical practice]. Med Clin (Barc) 2015; 145:313-6. [PMID: 25851915 DOI: 10.1016/j.medcli.2015.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2015] [Revised: 02/25/2015] [Accepted: 02/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- José Fernando Val-Bernal
- Unidad de Patología, Departamento de Ciencias Médicas y Quirúrgicas, Universidad de Cantabria, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Valdecilla (IDIVAL), Santander, España.
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15
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Castillo P, Ussene E, Ismail MR, Jordao D, Lovane L, Carrilho C, Lorenzoni C, Lacerda MV, Palhares A, Rodríguez-Carunchio L, Martínez MJ, Vila J, Bassat Q, Menéndez C, Ordi J. Pathological Methods Applied to the Investigation of Causes of Death in Developing Countries: Minimally Invasive Autopsy Approach. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0132057. [PMID: 26126191 PMCID: PMC4488344 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2015] [Accepted: 06/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Complete diagnostic autopsies (CDA) remain the gold standard in the determination of cause of death (CoD). However, performing CDAs in developing countries is challenging due to limited facilities and human resources, and poor acceptability. We aimed to develop and test a simplified minimally invasive autopsy (MIA) procedure involving organ-directed sampling with microbiology and pathology analyses implementable by trained technicians in low- income settings. METHODS A standardized scheme for the MIA has been developed and tested in a series of 30 autopsies performed at the Maputo Central Hospital, Mozambique. The procedure involves the collection of 20 mL of blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and puncture of liver, lungs, heart, spleen, kidneys, bone marrow and brain in all cases plus uterus in women of childbearing age, using biopsy needles. RESULTS The sampling success ranged from 67% for the kidney to 100% for blood, CSF, lung, liver and brain. The amount of tissue obtained in the procedure varied from less than 10 mm2 for the lung, spleen and kidney, to over 35 mm2 for the liver and brain. A CoD was identified in the histological and/or the microbiological analysis in 83% of the MIAs. CONCLUSIONS A simplified MIA technique allows obtaining adequate material from body fluids and major organs leading to accurate diagnoses. This procedure could improve the determination of CoD in developing countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Castillo
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Esperança Ussene
- Department of Pathology, Maputo Central Hospital, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Mamudo R. Ismail
- Department of Pathology, Maputo Central Hospital, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Dercio Jordao
- Department of Pathology, Maputo Central Hospital, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Lucilia Lovane
- Department of Pathology, Maputo Central Hospital, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Carla Carrilho
- Department of Pathology, Maputo Central Hospital, Maputo, Mozambique
| | | | - Marcus V. Lacerda
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Viera Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Antonio Palhares
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Viera Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | | | - Miguel J. Martínez
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Microbiology, Hospital Clinic, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Vila
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Microbiology, Hospital Clinic, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Quique Bassat
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Clara Menéndez
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Jaume Ordi
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Clinic, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
- * E-mail:
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