ABSTRACT
Forensic autopsy is performed to investigate a death. However, this is difficult in some cases, particularly in putrefied bodies. Pulmonary ossification is a rare pathological process, characterized by progressive and metaplastic ossification, which leads to the formation of small bony fragments in the pulmonary tissue. This condition can develop within the pulmonary tissues that are injured due to various causes. Metastatic and dystrophic calcification occur in normal tissues in conditions of deranged calcium metabolism and dead or degenerative tissue, respectively. Here, we describe the case of a 54-year-old man who lived alone and whose putrefied body was discovered by his landlord. A forensic pathologist identified needle-like sharp materials in both the lower lobes of the lungs during autopsy. Microscopic examination revealed dendriform pulmonary ossification with calcification. After autopsy, his medical history, including chronic kidney disease, was recorded by forensic pathologist. A review of his past medical history and comprehensive postmortem examination findings of the gross dissection, microscopic examination, and postmortem laboratory tests led to the determination of the cause of death as renal problems.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Small core biopsy samples can occasionally be obtained with conventional endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA). Although most studies have focused on the cytological analysis of specimens, data regarding histological assessment is scarce. The aim of this study was to determine whether core biopsies by conventional EUS-FNA could increase the accuracy of EUS-guided sampling when combined with cytology in the absence of an on-site cytopathologist. METHODS: In the 95 consecutive patients (98 lesions) undergoing EUS-FNA of solid pancreatic masses and intra-abdominal lymphadenopathy, tissue coils from the needle were harvested for histology, and residual tissue was examined by cytology. RESULTS: Adequate samples were obtained by EUS-FNA cytology, histology, and combined cytology-histology in 91.8%, 65.3%, and 94.8% of patients, respectively. From the pancreas (n=67), adequate samples for histology were obtained by EUS-FNA in 68.7% of cases, compared with 58.0% from non-pancreatic cases (n=31), respectively (p>0.05). The overall sensitivity and accuracy of EUS-FNA was 78.0% and 81.6% for cytology alone, 63.4% and 69.4% for histology alone, and 84.1% and 86.7% for combined cytology-histology, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Combined cytology and histology analysis for diagnosing pancreatic masses and intra-abdominal lymphadenopathy may increase the diagnostic yield of conventional EUS-FNA without on-site cytology.