Abstract
The autopsy examination of cardiac tissues is described in detail with stepwise consideration of the individual components of the heart. The approach to common pathological processes, cases with therapeutic interventions, and specialized tests is provided. There is a stepwise photographic illustration of the dissection technique together with discussion of the appropriate histological investigations, special stains, ancillary tests, and ultrastructural analysis. The method for cardiac conduction system assessment is illustrated, and an approach to various cardiac devices is discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Basso C, Burke M, Fornes P, Gallagher PJ, de Gouveia RH, Sheppard M, Thiene G, van der Wal A. Guidelines for autopsy investigation of sudden cardiac death. Vichow’s Archiv. 2008;452:11–8.
Suvarna SK. National guidelines for adult autopsy cardiac dissection: are they achievable? Histopathology. 2008;97–112:53.
Rutty GN, Burton JL. The evisceration. In: Burton JL, Rutty GN, editors. The hospital autopsy. 3rd ed. London: Arnold; 2010. p. 115–35.
Farrer-Brown G. A colour atlas of cardiac pathology. London: Wolfe Medical Publications Ltd.; 1977. p. 88–91.
Rutty GN, Burton JL. Dissection of the internal organs. In: Burton JL, Rutty GN, editors. The hospital autopsy. 3rd ed. London: Arnold; 2010. p. 136–58.
Edwards WD. Cardiovascular system. In: Ludwig J, editor. Autopsy practice. 3rd ed. Toronto: Humana Press; 2002. p. 21–43.
Becker AE, Anderson RH. Cardiac adaptation and its sequelae. In: Cardiac pathology. An integrated text and color atlas. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 1982. p. 1.2–1.8.
Silver MM, Silver MD. Examination of the heart and cardiovascular specimens in surgical pathology. In: Silver MD, Gotlieb AI, Schoen FJ, editors. Cardiovascular pathology. 3rd ed. New York: Churchill Livingstone; 2001. p. 1–29.
Kitson DW, Scholz DG, Hagen PT, Ilstrup DM, Edwards WD. Age-related changes in normal human heart during the first ten decades of life. Part II. Maturity: a quantitative anatomical study of 765 specimens from subjects 20–99 years old. Mayo Clin Proc. 1988;63:137–46.
Lucas SL. Derivation of new reference tables for human heart weights in light of increasing body mass index. J Clin Pathol. 2011;64:279–80.
Gaitskell K, Perera R, Soilleux EJ. Derivation of new reference tables for human heart weights in light of increasing body mass index. J Clin Pathol. 2011;64:358–62.
Sheppard M, Davies MJ. Cardiac examination and normal cardiac anatomy. In: Practical cardiovascular pathology. London: Arnold; 1998, p. 1–16.
Anderson RH, Becker AE. Normal cardiac anatomy. In: Anderson RH, Becker AE, Roberts WB, editors. The cardiovascular system. Part A: General considerations and congenital malformations. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 1993. p. 3–26.
Raasch F. Pacemaker post-mortem. In: Wecht C, editor. Legal medicine annual. Boston: Butterworth, 1997, p. 97–100.
Suvarna SK, Start RD, Tayler DI. A prospective audit of pacemaker function, implant lifetime and patient cause of death. J Clin Pathol. 1999;52:677–80.
Prahlow JA, Guilleyardo JM, Barnard JJ. The implantable cardioverter defibrillator. A potential hazard for autopsy pathologists. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1997;121:1076–80.
Fulton RM, Hutchinson EC, Morgan Jones A. Ventricular weight in cardiac hypertrophy. Br Heart J. 1952;14:413–20. doi:10.1136/hrt.14.3.413.
Schoen FJ. Approach to the analysis of cardiac valve prostheses as surgical pathology or autopsy specimens. Cardiovasc Pathol. 1995;4:241–55.
The Royal College of Pathologists. Guidelines on autopsy practice 2005: Scenario 1: Sudden death with likely cardiac pathology. www.rcpath.org/resources/pdf/AutopsyScenario1Jan05.pdf
Basso C, Corrado D, Marcus F, Nava A, Thiene G. Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. Lancet. 2009;373(9671):1289–300.
Tester DJ, Ackerman MJ. The role of molecular autopsy in unexplained sudden cardiac death. Curr Opin Cardiol. 2006;21:166–72.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer-Verlag London
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Suvarna, S.K. (2013). The Heart at Autopsy. In: Suvarna, S. (eds) Cardiac Pathology. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-2407-8_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-2407-8_5
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-2406-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-2407-8
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)