Patterns of Pulmonary Morphological Lesions Seen at Autopsy

Introduction: Chronic respiratory diseases are a group of chronic diseases affecting the airways and the other structures of the lungs. Hundreds of millions of people around the world suffer from preventable chronic respiratory diseases. Prompt investigation and diagnosis are essential to improving patient survival. Objective: The objective of this study was to observe the frequencies of different lung diseases on the basis of histopathological examination of lung tissue specimens removed at autopsy. This study was a non-interventional, cross – sectional and was conducted on 810 specimens of lungs at Pathology department of Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore in collaboration with the Forensic Medicine department of King Edward Medical University, Lahore. Methods: Relevant autopsy data was recorded in a proforma. The tissue specimens were fixed and processed. Paraffin sectioning was done followed by Haematoxylin and Eosin staining. The sections were then examined by a panel of consultant Histopathologists. Autopsies of 810 subjects with respiratory diseases were reviewed, and the following data were obtained: age, sex and cause of death. Results: During a period of one year, a total of 810 lungs and hilar lymph nodes specimens from autopsy subjects were studied. Maximum numbers of cases (68.14%) were in 20 – 49 years age group. The commonest cause of death (42.96%) was tuberculosis. On microscopic examination of the sections from the lungs, there were 348 cases of tuberculosis, 324 out of 810 (40%) cases of emphysema and silicosis was present in 89 (11%) cases. Squamous metaplasia was present in 49 (6%) and Pneumonia in 4% cases. 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. Emphysema and tuberculosis are quite common in our population.