Chronological transition of necropsy cases of animals in Tokyo, Japan.

There is no nationwide necropsy database of animals in Japan, and most of the records are available from the postwar period. To clarify the chronological transition of animal necropsy cases in Tokyo, Japan, the records accumulated in The University of Tokyo from 1902 were investigated. Of necropsy records on paper or electronic from 1902 to 2021 kept at the Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, The University of Tokyo, totally 3,137 cases including 572 in 1903-1914 (the Meiji-Taisho period), 1,258 in 1956-1969 (the Showa period) and 1,307 in 2006-2020 (the Heisei-Reiwa period), respectively, were examined for species, breed, age and pathological diagnosis. Dogs (44.6%) and horses (34.8%) in the Meiji-Taisho period, dogs (62.9%) and cats (17.3%) in the Showa period, and dogs (46.0%), cats (26.1%) and exotic animals (20.5%) in the Heisei-Reiwa period were the most necropsied animal species. With the passage of time, the number of animal species increased, and the breeds of dogs and cats came to be more various. The median ages of death were 2 years, 3 years and 10 years old in dogs in the Meiji-Taisho, Showa and Heisei-Reiwa periods, respectively, and 2 years and 10 years old in cats in the Showa and Heisei-Reiwa periods, respectively. Viral, bacterial and parasitic infections were decreased, and inversely tumor cases increased due to the prolonged lifespan.

Veno-occlusive disease of the lung after allogeneic haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation: An autopsy study.

Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (pVOD) is a potentially life-threatening sequela of allogeneic haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (alloHSCT). We conducted a morphometric evaluation of autopsy lung tissue to determine the incidence of pVOD and its association with donor type, conditioning regime, hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (hSOS), survival time, and graft versus host disease (GvHD). The degree of occlusion of pulmonary veins in 78 autopsy cases after alloHSCT and 12 control cases was assigned to one of the following categories: none, minor thickening of the intima (up to 33% narrowing), moderate pVOD wherein about half of the lumen (34-66%) is occluded, or advanced pVOD with near total or total (67-100%) obliteration of the lumen. Minor thickening of the intima was found in all patients after alloHSCT (median: 66% of the vessels) and it was found to a lesser extent in the control cases (median: 12%). Moderate to advanced pVOD was seen in 95% of the cases, but only in a minority of the veins and venules (median: 6% of the veins and venules). PVOD was not significantly correlated with other histopathological findings within the lungs, including acute pneumonia, desquamative pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, organising and non-specific pneumonia, and bronchiolitis obliterans or acute lung disease. PVOD was significantly associated with a conditioning regimen including cyclophosphamide, fludarabine, or antithymocyte globulin and the duration of survival after alloHSCT. It was not associated with acute or chronic GvHD, other intestinal lung diseases, hSOS, or donor characteristics. PVOD was found in most patients after they underwent alloHSCT, although it mainly involved only a minority of the vessels. It was associated with the conditioning regime and the duration of survival after alloHSCT.

Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status Scores Associate with Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease Pathology at Death.

BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) provides an opportunity for early intervention. Cognitive testing has proven to be a reliable way to identify individuals who may be at risk of AD. The Telephone Assessment for Cognitive Screening (TICS) is proficient in screening for cognitive impairment. However, its ability to identify those at risk of developing AD pathology is unknown. OBJECTIVE: We aim to investigate associations between TICS scores, collected over a period of 13 years, and the cognitive status of participants at death. We also examine relationships between TICS scores and neuropathological indices of AD (CERAD score, Thal phase, and Braak stage). METHODS: Between 2004 and 2017, participants from The University of Manchester Longitudinal Study of Cognition in Normal Healthy Old Age underwent cognitive assessment using TICS. Scores from four time points were available for analysis. Cognitive impairment and AD pathology at death was evaluated in 101 participants. RESULTS: TICS scores at time points 2, 3, and 4 were significantly lower in those cognitively impaired at death compared to those considered cognitively normal. There were significant negative correlations between TICS scores and CERAD score and Braak stage at time points 2 and 4. No correlations between Thal phase and TICS were found. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that TICS could be used not only to screen for cognitive impairment, but also to identify individuals at risk of developing AD pathology, many years before any overt symptoms occur. Once identified, 'at risk' individuals could be targeted for early interventions which could attenuate the progression of the disease.

Acute rheumatic fever - A pathological analysis of clinically missed cases.

BACKGROUND: Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and its post-inflammatory sequel chronic rheumatic heart disease (RHD) are endemic in the Indian setting. Despite the updated Jones criteria, many cases of ARF remain undiagnosed or are missed. AIMS: This study aims to analyze pathological profiles of such cases and their importance in context of clinical presentation and Jones criteria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 22-year retrospective observational study of ARF was conducted in the Department of Pathology in a tertiary care institute. The cases were categorized as 1. Those fulfilling and 2. those partially or not fulfilling the Jones Criteria. Based on the autopsy findings, the lesions were classified as categorized mitral stenosis and/or regurgitation (MS ± MR) and pure mitral regurgitation (MR). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Nil. RESULTS: In 22 years, among 697 cases of autopsied cases of RHD, there were 59 cases (8.5%) of ARF. Among them, seven cases fulfilled the Jones criteria; five of them were clinically diagnosed. The remaining 52 cases (88.1%, 34 with MS ± MR and 18 with MR) did not fulfill or partially fulfilled the Jones criteria and were not diagnosed. A total of 18 patients (30.5%) had the first attack of ARF, whereas recurrences were noted in the remaining patients (69.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The study indicates that the typical manifestations of ARF under Jones criteria may not be present, especially in cases with recurrence. Hence, a presumptive or possible diagnosis of ARF can be made with presence of minor criteria or strong clinical suspicion in such cases.

The Ring-and-Sling complex - Does it "Ring" true?

BACKGROUND: The "Ring-and-Sling" complex (RSC) comprises congenital tracheal stenosis and an abnormal origin/course of the left pulmonary artery. Based on clinical and imaging studies, the luminal narrowing is assumed to be as a result of rings cartilage (forming an "O"). AIMS: This is a postmortem based study of tracheal histology in infants after an autopsy encounter of a case of RSC. SUBJECT AND METHODS: RSC was identified in an infant at autopsy. The tracheal histomorphology revealed the presence of cartilaginous plates (instead of rings) and fibro-elastotic proliferation at the site of trachealis muscle. These changes prompted a study on variations in the histology of the trachea (with no known anomaly) in 35 autopsied neonates and infants. The transverse sections of the trachea were taken at one or more levels (Level 1 - at the level of the thyroid, Level 2 - midway between the thyroid and the carina, and Level 3 - just above the carina. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Epi-info software (v1.4.3, CD, US). RESULTS: On histology, 83 sections showed the trachealis muscle on the posterior aspect. A single semicircular cartilage was identified in only 17 of the 83 sections studied (20.5%, 6 in level 1, 9 in level 2 and 2 in level 3). In the remaining 66 sections (79.5%), the cartilage was disposed as multiple plates, ranging in number from 2 to 10. No significant association was found between semicircular cartilage rings and age, sex, gestational age, and level of section (P < 0.05). However, 14 cases with sectioning at all three levels were taken into account; all levels showed more cartilaginous plates compared to single rings, which were more common at level 1 (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The "ring" in RSC and normal infantile tracheas show cartilage plates with intermittent semicircular cartilage rings. These findings may have surgical implications for tracheal anomalies and bode favorable surgical outcomes.

Acute graft-versus-host-disease in acute myeloid leukemia: Clinicopathological correlation based on autopsy findings.

We present a case of acute myeloid leukemia developing acute graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) in the post transplant phase. The patient had GVHD of skin, liver and gastro-intestinal tract (resolved) with polymicrobial sepsis. The clinical course, treatment and pathological findings on autopsy including the cause of death have been discussed.

Evaluation of Gender Inequity in Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis: Differences by Sex in US Thyroid Cancer Incidence Compared With a Meta-analysis of Subclinical Thyroid Cancer Rates at Autopsy.

Importance: Thyroid cancer is more common in women than in men, but the associated causes of these differences are not fully understood. Objective: To compare sex-specific thyroid cancer rates in the US to the prevalence of subclinical thyroid cancer at autopsy. Data Sources: Data on thyroid cancer incidence and mortality by sex among US adults (≥18 years) were extracted from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) data for 1975 to 2017. Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science databases were searched for studies on the prevalence of subclinical thyroid cancer at autopsy of men and women, from inception to May 31, 2021. Study Selection: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) reporting guideline was used to perform a systematic search for articles reporting the prevalence of subclinical thyroid cancer in autopsy results of both women and men. Of 101 studies identified, 8 studies containing 12 data sets met inclusion criteria; ie, they examined the whole thyroid gland, stated the number of thyroids examined, and reported results by sex. Excluded studies reported thyroid cancer in Japan after the atomic bombs or Chernobyl after the nuclear disaster; did not examine the whole thyroid gland or had incomplete information on thyroid examination methods; or did not report rates by sex. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Thyroid cancer incidence and mortality data by sex, histologic type, and tumor size were extracted from SEER. The inverse variance heterogeneity model was used to meta-analyze the prevalence and the odds ratio of subclinical thyroid cancer by sex from 8 studies (12 data sets) on thyroid cancer prevalence in autopsy results. Main Outcomes and Measures: Incidence and mortality of thyroid cancer, by histologic type and tumor size; prevalence of thyroid cancer in autopsy results. Results: In 2017, 90% of thyroid cancers diagnosed were papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and in 2013 to 2017, the women to men incidence ratio for small (≤2 cm) PTC was 4.39:1. The incidence ratio approached 1:1 as cancer type lethality increased. The ratio of thyroid cancer mortality by gender was 1.02:1 and remained stable from 1992 to 2017. Results of the meta-analysis showed that the pooled autopsy prevalence of subclinical PTC was 14% in women (95% CI, 8%-20%) and 11% in men (95% CI, 5%-18%). The pooled odds ratio of subclinical PTC in women compared with men was 1.07 (95% CI, 0.80-1.42). Conclusions and Relevance: This cohort study and meta-analysis found that the belief that women get thyroid cancer more often than men is an oversimplification. The gender disparity is mostly confined to the detection of small subclinical PTCs, which are equally common in both sexes at autopsy but identified during life much more often in women than men. As the lethality of the cancer type increases, the ratio of detection by gender approaches 1:1. This phenomenon may be associated with gender differences in health care utilization and patterns of clinical thinking and can harm both women, who are subject to overdetection, and men, who may be at risk of underdetection.

Viral mapping in COVID-19 deceased in the Augsburg autopsy series of the first wave: A multiorgan and multimethodological approach.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is only partly understood, and the level of evidence available in terms of pathophysiology, epidemiology, therapy, and long-term outcome remains limited. During the early phase of the pandemic, it was necessary to effectively investigate all aspects of this new disease. Autopsy can be a valuable procedure to investigate the internal organs with special techniques to obtain information on the disease, especially the distribution and type of organ involvement. METHODS: During the first wave of COVID-19 in Germany, autopsies of 19 deceased patients were performed. Besides gross examination, the organs were analyzed with standard histology and polymerase-chain-reaction for SARS-CoV-2. Polymerase chain reaction positive localizations were further analyzed with immunohistochemistry and RNA-in situ hybridization for SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS: Eighteen of 19 patients were found to have died due to COVID-19. Clinically relevant histological changes were only observed in the lungs. Diffuse alveolar damage in considerably different degrees was noted in 18 cases. Other organs, including the central nervous system, did not show specific micromorphological alterations. In terms of SARS-CoV-2 detection, the focus remains on the upper airways and lungs. This is true for both the number of positive samples and the viral load. A highly significant inverse correlation between the stage of diffuse alveolar damage and viral load was found on a case and a sample basis. Mediastinal lymph nodes and fat were also affected by the virus at high frequencies. By contrast, other organs rarely exhibited a viral infection. Moderate to strong correlations between the methods for detecting SARS-CoV-2 were observed for the lungs and for other organs. CONCLUSIONS: The lung is the most affected organ in gross examination, histology and polymerase chain reaction. SARS-CoV-2 detection in other organs did not reveal relevant or specific histological changes. Moreover, we did not find CNS involvement.

COVID-19 Cardiac Injury: An Important Cause of COVID-19 Related Morbidityand Mortality.

OBJECTIVE: Although coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) typically presents as a respiratory illness, co-existent cardiovascular symptomatology associated with an elevated serum troponin level has been identified as a risk factor for adverse outcomes. Our study addressed the need to correlate serum cardiovascular biomarkers with tissue pathology based on autopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 13 patients, we reviewed the clinical history and measurements of serum troponin and other biomarkers and correlated them with autopsy findings. RESULTS: At autopsy, the 13 COVID-19 patients exhibited evidence of diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) and cardiomegaly (heart weights ranged from 380 to 1170 grams). Of the 13 patients, three had elevated troponin I and evidence of severe coronary artery disease (CAD) (cases 4, 5, and 11), while six had elevated troponin I without evidence of severe CAD (cases 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, and 9), and four had no clinical or pathological evidence of CAD. Of note, cases 7 and 9 had significantly elevated troponin I levels (8.84 ng/mL and 4.94 ng/mL, respectively). Several cases showed focal degenerative change or damage of cardiomyocytes. However, none of the cases had evidence of lymphocytic myocarditis. CONCLUSION: Although we observed elevated biomarkers of heart failure in some cases, it was not a consistent finding and did not correlate with evidence of myocarditis. The elevated biomarkers may reflect non-ischemic heart damage as a consequence of COVID-19 infection.

Temporal trends and sex differences in sudden cardiac death in the Copenhagen City Heart Study.

OBJECTIVE: More knowledge about the development of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the general population is needed to develop meaningful predictors of SCD. Our aim with this study was to estimate the incidence of SCD in the general population and examine the temporal changes, demographics and clinical characteristics. METHODS: All participants in the Copenhagen City Heart Study were followed from 1993 to 2016. All death certificates, autopsy reports and national registry data were used to identify all cases of SCD. RESULTS: A total of 14 562 subjects were included in this study. There were 8394 deaths with all information available, whereof 1335 were categorised as SCD. The incidence of SCD decreased during the study period by 41% for persons aged 40-90 years, and the standardised incidence rates decreased from 504 per 100 000 person-years (95% CI 447 to 569) to 237 per 100 000 person-years (95% CI 195 to 289). The incidence rate ratio of SCD between men and women ≤75 years was 1.99 (95% CI 1.62 to 2.46). The proportion of SCD of all cardiac deaths decreased during the observation period and decreased with increasing age. Men had more cardiovascular comorbidities (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.68, p<0. 01), and SCD was the first registered manifestation of cardiac disease in 50% of all cases. CONCLUSION: The incidence of SCD in the general population has declined significantly during the study period but should be further investigated for more recent variations as well as novel risk predictors for persons with low to medium risk of SCD.

Prevalence of prostate cancer at autopsy in Nigeria-A preliminary report.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Nigerian men despite the lack of PSA based screening. Current prevalence estimates in Nigeria are based on cancer registry data obtained primarily from hospital admissions and therefore not truly reflective of prostate cancer incidence. Prior autopsy series did not adhere to modern pathologic quality practices. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of asymptomatic prostate cancer among Nigerian men at the time of autopsy. METHODS: Prostates were collected at autopsy at the Universities of Lagos and Calabar Teaching Hospitals from men aged more than 40 who died from causes other than prostate cancer. Thirty-nine prostates from Nigerian men autopsied in 2017 to 2018 were formalin-fixed, weighed, and sliced at 4 mm intervals. Haematoxylin and eosin-stained paraffin sections were prepared from these slices. Presence and Gleason grade of prostatic adenocarcinomas and presence of high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) were recorded. RESULTS: Mean age of cases was 55 ± 11 years and mean prostatic weight was 23.0 ± 10.9 g. The crude prevalence of HGPIN was 20.6%. Overall crude prevalence of prostate cancer was 8.8% (n = 34), increasing from 8.3% for men aged 40-59 (n = 23) to 10.0% for men ≥60 years old (n = 10). Two tumors were small and had Gleason Grade 3 + 3 or 3 + 4, and one large stage T3 tumor with Gleason Grade 4 + 3 disease and neuroendocrine appearance was found in a 54-year-old man. CONCLUSIONS: The 8.8% prevalence of subclinical prostate cancer at autopsy was similar to previously reported Nigerian studies with more limited tissue sampling (6.7%-10%), but considerably lower than estimates in other populations, including African Americans. Our findings suggest that latent, clinically asymptomatic prostate cancer is less frequent in Nigerians than in African Americans, despite shared genetic ancestry. Future studies with increased sample size are warranted to provide insight in the natural history and true prevalence of prostate cancer in West Africa.

[Analysis of the major clinical-pathological discrepancies in autopsies of adults in a tertiary referral hospital between 2008-2017]. / Análisis de las principales discrepancias clínico-patológicas mayores en adultos en los estudios de autopsia de un hospital de tercer nivel en la década 2008-2017.

OBJECTIVE: To compare and contrast clinical diagnoses with autopsy findings in order to identify unexpected, relevant discrepancies. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective observational study of the revision of autopsies of adults and their respective medical records in order to classify them according to referral department and Goldman's classification was carried out at the Central University Hospital of Asturias between 2008-2017. RESULTS: 694 (52.6%) of 1320 autopsies were included in the study. Discrepancies were observed in 57.6% of cases, although the majority (39.3%) were minor. Type I discrepancies were identified in 63 autopsies (9.1%); malignant neoplasms being the main pathology observed (57.1%), mainly of gastrointestinal origin (about 28%). The second most common discrepancy was found in cases of infectious diseases (23.8%) followed by pulmonary embolism (15.9%). 64 autopsies were classified as type II discrepancies (9.2%), with myocardial infarct the most common (37.5%), especially acute myocardial infarction (18 cases), followed by bronchoaspirations (18.7%), DIC (15.6%), massive haemorrhages (9.4%) and other conditions. It was considered that both the ICU and the Internal Medicine Service were responsible for the largest number of major discrepancies (type I and II), accounting for about 45% of type I and slightly more than 56% for type II. CONCLUSION: Autopsies are an essential means of identifying ante-mortem clinical errors. The incidence of major discrepancies in the Central University Hospital of Asturias (18.3%) is comparable to that of leading hospitals worldwide.

Factors associated with cattle necropsy submissions in Switzerland, and their importance for surveillance.

Pathology data have been reported to be important for surveillance, as they are crucial for correctly recognizing and identifying new or re-emerging diseases in animal populations. However, there are no reports in the literature of necropsy data being compared or complemented with other data. In our study, we compared cattle necropsy reports extracted from 3 laboratories with the Swiss fallen stock data and clinical data collected by the association of Swiss Cattle Breeders. The objective was to assess the completeness, validity and representativeness of the necropsy data, as well as evaluate potential factors for necropsy submission and how they can benefit animal health surveillance. Our results showed that, on average, 1% of Swiss cattle that die are submitted for post-mortem examinations. However, different factors influence cattle necropsy submissions, such as the age of the animal, the geographical location and the number of sick and/or dead animals on the farm. There was a median of five animals reported sick and two animals reported dead within 30 days prior to a necropsy submission, providing quantitative evidence of a correlation between on farm morbidity/mortality and post-mortem examination. Our results also showed that necropsy data can help improve the accuracy and completeness of health data for surveillance systems. In this study, we were able to demonstrate the importance of veterinary pathology data for AHS by providing quantitative evidence that necropsied animals are indicative of farms with important disease problems and are therefore critically important for surveillance. Furthermore, thanks to the amount of information provided by combined data sources, the epidemiology (e.g. season, geographic region, risk factors) of potential diseases can be analysed more precisely and help supporting animal health surveillance systems.

Epidemiology of visceral mycoses in patients with acute leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome: Analyzing the national autopsy database in Japan.

Visceral mycoses (VM) are a deadly common infection in patients with acute leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). We retrospectively analyzed the data from the centralized "Annual Report of Autopsy Cases in Japan" that archives the national autopsy cases since 1989. Among the total of 175,615 archived autopsy cases, 7183 cases (4.1%) were acute leukemia and MDS patients. While VM was only found in 7756 cases (4.4% in total cases), we found VM had a disproportionally high prevalence among acute leukemia and MDS patients: 1562 VM cases (21.7%) and nearly sixfold higher in prevalence. Aspergillus spp. was the most predominant causative agent (45.0%), and Candida spp. was the second (22.7%) among confirmed single pathogen involved cases. The prevalence of Candida spp. infection decreased about 50% due to the widely use of fluconazole prophylaxis, which may skew toward doubling of the Mucormycetes incidence compared to 30 years ago. Complicated fungal infection (> one pathogen) was 11.0% in acute leukemia and MDS in 2015. It was 14.7 times higher than in other populations. Among 937 patients who received allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), the prevalence of VM was 28.3% and 23.3% with GVHD. Aspergillus spp. was less prevalent, but Candida spp. was more associated with GVHD. Its prevalence remains stable. Although Aspergillus spp. was the primary causative agent, non-albicans Candida spp. was increasing as a breakthrough infection especially in GVHD cases. Complicated pathogen cases were more common in acute leukemia and MDS.

Person-Specific Contributions of Brain Pathologies to Progressive Parkinsonism in Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: Mixed-brain pathologies are the most common cause of progressive parkinsonism in older adults. We tested the hypothesis that the impact of individual pathologies associated with progressive parkinsonism differs among older adults. METHODS: Data were from 1089 decedents who had undergone annual clinical testing and autopsy. Parkinsonism was based on a modified United Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. Linear mixed-effects models were employed, to investigate the combinations of 9 pathologies related to progressive parkinsonism. Then we estimated the person-specific contributions of each pathology for progressive parkinsonism. RESULTS: The average participant showed 3 pathologies. Parkinson's disease (PD) and 4 cerebrovascular pathologies (macroinfarcts, atherosclerosis, arteriolosclerosis, and cerebral amyloid angiopathy [CAA]), but not Alzheimer's disease, TDP-43, hippocampal sclerosis, and microinfarcts, were independently associated with progressive parkinsonism. These pathologies accounted for 13% of additional variance of progressive parkinsonism. Thirty-one different combinations of these 5 pathologies were observed to be associated with progressive parkinsonism observed. On average, PD and CAA accounted, respectively, for 66% and 65% of person-specific progression of parkinsonism, while macroinfarcts, atherosclerosis, and arteriolosclerosis accounted for 41%-48%. CONCLUSION: There is much greater heterogeneity in the comorbidity and relative impact of individual brain pathologies affecting progressive parkinsonism than previously recognized and this may account in part for its phenotypic heterogeneity in older adults.

Autopsy examination in sudden cardiac death: a current perspective on behalf of the Association for European Cardiovascular Pathology.

In sudden cardiac death, an autopsy is an essential step in establishing a diagnosis of inherited cardiac disease and identifying families that require cardiac screening. To evaluate aspects of post-mortem practice in Europe, a questionnaire was designed and circulated to both clinical and forensic pathologists. There was a 48% response rate and information was obtained from 17 countries. The results showed a wide variety in the management of sudden cardiac death, with a general tendency towards a lack of thorough investigation. In up to 40% of cases, autopsies were not performed in subjects less than 50 years who may have died from cardiac disease. Reasons for this were lack of finance and lack of interest from police, legal authorities, and doctors. Only 50% of pathologists seem to follow a standard protocol for autopsy examination, apparently due to lack of expertise and/or training. When autopsies were performed, histology and toxicology were almost always taken, genetic studies were generally available and retention of the heart for specialist study was usually permitted. Our results suggest that although the standard of practice is appropriate in many centres, many more cases should have autopsies, especially in sudden deaths in subjects less than 50 years.

Human identification: a review of methods employed within an Australian coronial death investigation system.

Whilst many identification methods have been widely described and discussed in the literature, and considered in disaster and humanitarian contexts, there has been limited reporting and evaluation of the identification methods used in domestic medico-legal death investigation contexts. The aim of this study was to evaluate the identification methods utilised at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM), which forms part of a coronial medico-legal death investigation system. The method of identification and time taken to complete the identification were reviewed for all cases admitted to the VIFM over a five-year period from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2020. The majority, 91%, of individuals admitted to the VIFM were visually identified. The remaining 9% of cases required identification by primary methods (i.e. fingerprints, DNA or dental) or, when those methods were not possible, by secondary methods (i.e. circumstantial). Visual identifications were the timeliest, taking an average of 1.5 days, whilst primary identification methods required an average of 5 days to complete. The triaging of identification methods, dependent on the case context, body preservation, availability of ante-mortem data, legal requirements and admissibility of the method, are determined by identification coordinators within the Human Identification Service (HIS) to ensure the most appropriate and timely method is employed. This review of human identification methods provides the foundation for future analyses to compare workflow processes and improve identification methods utilised in domestic medico-legal contexts.