Prevalence Study of Silent Liver Pathology in Autopsy Specimens at Pathology Department, NHLMMC VSGH, Ahmedabad

Liver diseases are frequently underdiagnosed pathology in many cases. A wide spectrum of primary as well as secondary diseases can affect liver. The study aims to determine the prevalence of silent liver diseases in autopsy specimens and to correlate it with age, sex, known and unknown risk factors. Histopathology is an important and most useful way to find out the conditions of internal visceral organs and the unique method for diagnosis of liver diseases. Histopathology study is conducted in 212 cases in the department of Pathology and the department of forensic medicine, in NHL Municipal Medical College, at V.S. General Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.

To study the prevalence of silent liver pathology in autopsy specimens in the department of pathology and forensic medicine at NHL Municipal Medical College, VS General Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

The study was conducted over a period of 11months (Jan 2016 to Nov 2016) as an observational study. We collected samples of liver tissue from 212 cases for histopathology study. Gross and microscopic examination of all the specimens was done. Tissue sections were made and stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin and then evaluated.

Of the 212 cases were studied, 23 cases were excluded due to autolysis. 189 cases have analyzed for study. Among 189 cases, Males were 141(74.6%) & females were 48(25.4%). Congestion was the most common finding, found in 65(34.39%) cases followed by fatty changes in 48(25.39%) cases, normal histology in 35 (18.52%) cases, hepatic necrosis in 19 (10%) cases, periportal lymphocytic infiltration in 12 (6.34%) cases, portal fibrosis in 4 (2.11%) cases, cirrhosis in 3 (1.58%) cases, granulomatous lesions in 2 (1.05%) cases and bile stasis in 1 (0.52) case.

This study reflects high prevalence rate of asymptomatic liver diseases as seen in autopsy specimens. Different liver pathologies like congestion, fatty changes, hepatic necrosis, portal fibrosis, cirrhosisand granulomatous lesions are found during postmortem histopathological examination.