Histopathological examination in routine medicolegal autopsy: 3-years retrospective analysis

Histopathological examination is one of the important ancillary investigations to be done in medicolegal autopsies, particularly in sudden and natural deaths. It not only helps to know or to confirm the cause of death at autopsy but also helps in knowing the circumstances of death by judging the pathology/pregnancy in suspected deaths. In the present study, out of a total of 2134 medico-legal autopsies carried out in the apex medical centre during 3 year period, histopathological examination (HPE) was done in 12.3% cases. The histopathological examination was predominantly carried out in males with peak incidence at age of 21–40 years. Lung was the commonest organ sent for histopathological examination followed by brain, liver, spleen, kidney and heart. Usually, the tissue was sent in combination of two or more organs, mostly in small pieces. The findings of histopathological examination report were specific in relation to cause of death or pathology of the organ in 44.5% cases. The manner of death was not altered in any of the case after HPE, but it helped in giving the cause of death in 4.6% cases where the cause of death was not apparent at autopsy.