Prevalence of pathology in the cadaveric heart, lungs, liver and kidneys

Abstract

The purpose of this project was to investigate the macroscopic and microscopic appearance of pathology of the heart, lung, kidney and liver in the cadaver population. In addition to the description of the common pathologic incidences, this project also served to separate the characteristics into three categories pertaining to the state of cadaveric tissue: normal, abnormal or artifact. Cadaveric organs (n= 39 hearts, 97 lungs, 76 kidneys and 44 livers) were grossly and histologically examined. The gross characteristics that appeared abnormal were statistically correlated with the histologic confirmation of pathologic changes in the tissue. The significant correlations between the gross and histologic observations indicate the most common pathologic incidences that can be grossly observed are: replacement scarring, interstitial fibrosis and necrosis (heart); chronic obstructive lung disease, acute bronchopneumonia and plexogenic arteriopathy (lung); glomerulosclerosis, arteriosclerosis and acute tubular necrosis (kidney); portal fibrosis, fatty changes and cirrhosis (liver). Correlative analysis was used to determine the presence of artifact in cadaveric organs caused by the embalming process that may resemble pathologic states such as discoloration of both the myocardial wall and cortical surface of the kidney. These results indicate that there are certain disease conditions that are prevalent among the cadaver “population” that may be used for clinical, teaching and research purposes.