Magnitude and Histopathological Patterns of Liver Diseases among Forensic Autopsy Decedents at Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar-es-salaam- Tanzania

Abstract

Abstract Introduction/Objective Liver diseases are not infrequent. Majority of liver disorders proceed silently and manifests at later stages. To date no data has been published on the prevalence of liver diseases discovered during autopsy in our country and thus, occurrence and frequency of these diseases is not known. This work aimed at determining the prevalence and the histopathologic features ascribed to specific disease entities, utilizing the opportunity of autopsy cases. Methods/Case Report A prospective cross-sectional study, autopsy based was conducted at Muhimbili National Hospital Histopathology Laboratory premises in which Medical-legal autopsies received at MNH mortuary facility with causes of death other than liver diseases were enrolled for the study. Demographic information and circumstance of death were established from respective forms. Gross appearance of the liver was recorded prior to sampling of the tissue for histopathological studies. The sampled tissue specimen were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formaline prior to grossing and processing. Special stains were use when deemed necessary for enhancing definitive diagnosis. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) This study recruited 253 forensic autopsy cases, in which majority were males 218(86%) and the mean apparent age at death was 36 +/- 12.98(SD) with the peak age group of the study participants was 26-35yrs 77(30.4%). Bulk of cases had fat change 83(32.8%), followed by steatohepatitis 37(14.6%), and granulomatous lesions 27(10.7%), of the 27, the majority 18 cases were specified as hepatic schistosomiasis 8(3.2%). +Combined infective lesions summed up to 34(13.4%) when suspects of viral hepatitis were added to granulomatous lesions. Majority of cases crowded in the younger age groups. Conclusion To the best of my knowledge, this study is the first of its kind in our region. It shows there are diverse and prevalent liver diseases afflicting younger forensic decedents estimating the odds among apparently healthy population in our setting.