Case of the Month
Not-So-Obvious Uses of the Autopsy
Arch Intern Med. 1998;158:2429-2430.
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INTRODUCTION
A 33-YEAR-OLD black man was admitted with second- and third-degree burns over 50% of the total body surface area. The burns were not considered life-threatening and were treated with fluid replacement, debridement, and silver sulfadiazine. Neither fasciotomies nor skin grafts were required. The patient's condition improved initially but then deteriorated slowly during a 3-week course. Chest x-ray films showed increasing bilateral infiltrates with some focal nodularity, and the mediastinum was also perceived to be widened. On the 23rd hospital day, the patient died. There was no clinical evidence of local burn wound infection or systemic sepsis.
AUTOPSY FINDINGS
The autopsy showed second- and third-degree burns that were healing. Minimal bacterial colonization was identified microscopically. The lungs were heavy and weighed 750 g (left) and 800 g (right) and were firm to palpation, both findings suggestive of pneumonia. Focal spherical lesions as large as 15 mm in diameter with hyperemic rims were identified . . . [Full Text of this Article]
COMMENT
Kim A. Collins, MD;
Clay A. Nichols, MD
Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston
Randy Hanzlick, MD
Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Ga
and the Autopsy Committee of the College of American Pathologists
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
Case of the Month: Wrapping Things Up
Hanzlick and the Autopsy Committee of the College of American P
Arch Intern Med 2000;160:3029-3031.
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