Abstract
The importance of autopsy in the event of fetal or neonatal death is widely demonstrated in several studies [1–3]. Thanks to the diagnostic power now provided by cross-sectional echocardiography, most structural and functional congenital heart diseases can be identified during fetal life. However, it is unreasonable to expect 100% sensitivity in all cases. In fact, many drawbacks can limit the ultrasonic examination, such as gestational age at the time of scan, fetal position, ultrasonic impedance of the maternal abdomen, examiner experience, and types of equipment used. In case of termination or spontaneous intrauterine death autopsy is still a valuable tool that provides clinicopathological correlation for clinicians and gives information to families regarding the risk of recurrence of specific diseases in future pregnancies. In the latter instance, evaluations can be made earlier in gestation, allowing informed decisions that will be in the best interest of the mother and fetus.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Bove KE (1997) Practice guidelines for autopsy pathology: the perinatal and pediatric autopsy. Autopsy Committee of the College of American Pathologists. Arch Pathol Lab Med 121:368–376
Gordijn SJ, Erwich JJHM, Khong TY (2002) Value of perinatal autopsy: critique. Pediatr Devel Pathol 5:480–488
Siebert JR, Kapur RP (2000) Congenital anomalies in the fetus: approaches to examination and diagnosis. Path Case Rev 5:3–13
Redfern M, Keeling JW, Powell E (2001) The Royal Liverpool Children’s Inquiry Report. The Stationary Office, Norwich, UK
Kennedy L (2001) The report of the public inquiry into children’s heart surgery at The Bristol Royal Infirmary 1984–1995. Learning from Bristol. The Stationary Office, Norwich, UK
Cook CA, Yates RW, Anderson RH (2004) Normal and abnormal fetal cardiac anatomy. Prenat Diagn 24:1032–1048
Sheaff MT, Hopster DJ (2005) Post mortem technique handbook. Springer, London, pp 119–140
Gilbert-Barness E, Debich-Spicer DE (2005) Handbook of pediatric autopsy pathology, Humana Press, Totowa, pp 191–250
Gilbert-Barness E (2007) Potter’s pathology of the fetus, infant and child, 2nd edn. Mosby Elsevier, Philadelphia, pp 969–1071
Brodlie M, Laing IA, Keeling JW, et al (2002) Ten years of neonatal autopsies in a tertiary referral centre: retrospective study. BMJ 324:761–763
Okah FA (2002). The autopsy: experience of a regional neonatal intensive care unit. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol; 16:350–354
Ros PR, Li KC, Vo P et al (1990) Preautopsy magnetic resonance imaging: initial experience. Magn Reson Imaging 8:303–308
Brookes JS, Hagmann C (2006) MRI in fetal necroscopy. J Magn Reson Imag 24:1221–1228
Jackowski C, Schweitzer W, Thali M et al (2005) Virtopsy; postmortem imaging of the human heart in situ using MSCT and MRI. Forensic Sci Int 149:11–23
Woodward PJ, Sohaey R, Harris DP et al (1997) Postmortem fetal MR imaging: comparison with findings at autopsy. AJR Am J Roentgenol 168:41–46
Alderliesten ME, Peringa J, van der Hulst VP et al (2003) Perinatal mortality: clinical value of postmortem magnetic resonance imaging compared with autopsy in routine obstetric practice. BJOG 110:378–382
Huisman TA, Wisser J, Stallmach T et al (2002) MR autopsy in fetuses. Fetal Diagn Ther 17:58–64
Sebire NJ (2006) Towards the minimally invasive autopsy? Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 28:865–867
Aiello VD, Debich-Spicer D, Anderson RH (2007) Is there still a role for cardiac autopsy in 2007? Cardiol Young 17:97–10
Bussolati G, Marchiò C, Volante M (2005) Tissue arrays as fiducial markers for section alignment in 3-D reconstruction technology. J Cell Mol Med 9:438–445
Fredouille C, Morice JE, Delbecque K et al (2006) New fetopathological section of the heart. Correlated to the ultrasonographic 4-chamber view in fetuses. Ann Pathol 26(1):60–65
Van Praagh R (1972) The segmental approach to diagnosis in congenital heart disease. In: Bergsma D (ed) Birth defects original article series, vol VIII, no. 5, The National Foundation — March of Dimes. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, pp 4–23
Anderson RH, Ho SY (1977) Continuing medical education, Sequential segmental analysis-description and categorization for the Millenia. Cardiol Young 7:98–116
Anderson RH (2000) Nomenclature and classification; sequential segmental analysis. In: Moller JH, Hoffman JIE (eds) Pediatric cardiovascular medicine. Churchill Livingstone, New York, pp 263–274
Varetto L, Gargallo C, Botta G et al (2008) Photographic documentation of autopsies. Minerva Medicoleg 128:1–7
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2008 Springer-Verlag Italia
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
(2008). The Role of the Pathologist in the Diagnosis of Fetal Heart Disease. In: Echocardiographic Anatomy in the Fetus. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-0573-0_21
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-0573-0_21
Publisher Name: Springer, Milano
Print ISBN: 978-88-470-0572-3
Online ISBN: 978-88-470-0573-0
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)