Histopathological autoptic findings in 8 patients with pandemic influenza A (H1N1) pneumonia.

UNLABELLED: In the years 2009 and 2010 a novel influenza A (H1N1) caused the first influenza pandemic after 41 years. In the Czech Republic it culminated in November and December 2009 and there were 101 laboratory-confirmed deaths. Another few cases occurred later in the year 2010 and at the beginning of 2011. Here we report 8 autoptic cases of patients who died between 2009 and 2011 with confirmed H1N1 influenza and underwent a post mortem examination at the Institute of Pathology, General University Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic. This group differs from the others reported in literature by having a higher age as well as a higher percentage of patients with pre-existing severe comorbidities including malignant diseases. All 8 patients developed atypical pneumonia with subsequent respiratory failure. In this article we present these cases with related clinical data and findings in other organs, but we focus primarily on the findings in the respiratory tract which were shown to be approximately similar to those in the other studies and case reports. Nevertheless there were also some noteworthy variations. The most prominent feature observed was diffuse alveolar damage accompanied by intraalveolar haemorrhage and inflammatory infiltrate of variable extent. Less frequent features included cytopathic changes of pneumocytes and their desquamation, reactive changes of bronchial epithelium, intraalveolar fibrinous exudate, minor necroses, residual necrotizing bronchitis, focal granulation tissue and incipient fibrosis. In one case we found an extraordinary vascular change of uncertain origin. In conclusion, this group of patients is slightly atypical and differ in some features from those in other published studies and case reports concerning novel pandemic influenza. By reporting them we wish to extend the number of described cases, which may contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of novel influenza infection. KEYWORDS: influenza A virus, subtype H1N1 - viral pneumonia - diffuse alveolar damage.

[Current options of prenatal diagnosis in congential diaphragmatic hernia]. / Soucasné moznosti prenatální diagnostiky kongenitálni diafragmatické hernie.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to review the current options of prenatal diagnosis in congential diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). SUBJECT: Systematic review. SETTING: Institute for the Care of Mother and Child, 3rd Medical Faculty, Prague. SUBJECT AND METHOD: Review of recent published data. CONCLUSION: The basic method for prenatal diagnosis of congenital diaphragmatic hernia is 2D ultrasonography: measurement of lung-to-head ratio (LHR), observed to expected lung to head ratio (observed to expected LHR - O/E LHR), localization of diaphragmatic defect, assessment of liver position and presence of associated anomalies (negative prognostic factors). Prenatal diagnosis can be supplied with 3D ultrasonography and magnetic resonace (imaging methods for valid measurement of fetal lung volume and/or presence of associated congenital defects confirmation). The reactivity of intrapulmonary arteries are evaluated by hyperoxygenation test and measurement of arterial Doppler parameters. Isolated diaphragmatic hernia is not an indication for invasive prenatal diagnostic methods. Important part of succesful prenatal diagnosis and therapy of CDH is concentration of cases in specialized centre.

[Comparison of prenatal ultrasound examination, post-mortem magnetic resonance imaging and autopsy (a case report--schizencephaly)]. / Komparace prenatáního ultrazvukového vysetrení, post mortem magnetické rezonance a patologicko-anatomické pitvy (kazuistika--schizencefalie).

OBJECTIVE: To improve prenatal diagnostic with a feedback of autopsy, complemented by post mortem magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI is important for malformations of CNS, where autopsy can be insufficient. SUBJECT: Case report. SETTING: MR unit of the Department of radiology, Department of obstetrics and gynaecology and Department of pathology, 1st medical school, Charles University in Prague, General Teaching Hospital. SUBJECT AND METHOD: To compare prenatal ultrasound, post mortem MRI and autopsy. CONCLUSION: Case report documented complementarity of all three method; full agreement in brain malformation type was found.

Meningocerebral angiodysplasia: post-mortem magnetic resonance imaging and autopsy. A case report.

This case report describes a finding of vascular malformation of an aborted foetus of gestational age of the 22nd week. This concerns meningocerebral angiodysplasia, located in the posterior fossa and around the thalami. This disease is rare and is often accompanied by renal agenesis. The finding was complicated by hydrocephalus. Our report compares all three diagnostic methods (prenatal ultrasonography, post-mortem MR and autopsy). Prenatal ultrasonography described only hydrocephalus and reduction of cerebral parenchyma. MR displayed the extent of the malformation, the exact diagnosis was however determined by histological examination. MR described agenesis of structures of midbrain, which was confirmed by autopsy.