Abstract:

Introduction: Autopsy is a procedure that aids to identify the changes occurring in the organs which helps to establish the cause of death and time of death. It also helps to study the ante-mortem as well as postmortem aspect of death. The importance of the study is that it highlights the pattern of various lesions in the lung and liver which are seen in the medico legal and neonatal autopsies along with histopathological examination, which were either incidental or the direct cause of the death. Methodology: A retrospective descriptive study of the medico legal autopsies was carried out in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Darbhanga Medical College & Hospital, Laheriasri, Bihar, India for a period of six Months that was from August 2021 to January 2022. Medico legal autopsies during that period, irrespective of age and sex, were included in this study. A total of 30 medico legal autopsies were conducted in the study period in which part of lung and liver were sent for pathological examination. Results: A total of 30 specimens of part of lung were received during the period of study. Histopathological examination was carried out in each case. Out of these, 7 specimens of lung were poorly preserved and autolyzed. Majority of the samples came from male corpses. Out of the total liver specimens (i.e., 30 cases), most of the cases on histopathological examination showed sinusoidal and vascular congestion. Grossly, these liver specimens appeared unremarkable. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of histopathological report in lung and liver autopsy cases, especially in the cases where histopathology findings were incidental and were not considered at the time of death.

Keywords: