The importance and role of histopathologic examination to determine cause of death in forensic autopsies

Aim and introduction: Autopsy is extremely comprehensive technical knowledge and expertise in the scientific method that, the detection of pathological events and their relationship with clinical history for uncovering and identifying the causes of changes. From the past to the present is being used as an educational method with many scientific research constitutes the basis for the data obtained. This study is aimed to investigate the role and importance of the histopathologic examination to determine the cause of death in forensic autopsies. Materials and methods: On the three-year period between 2011-2013 in the adult age group (18 years and older) retrospectively examined the autopsy reports of cases such as age, gender and demographic characteristics by evaluating the cause of death in the conclusion section of the report according to the histopathological examination of the contribution to the determination of the exact cause of death was investigated at Morgue Department of Forensic Medicine Institute of Izmir Group Chairmanship. Findings: The average age of the cases was 53,95 ± 18,12 (18-103) and the age group of 18-49 years was determined that in the first place in both sexes. Histopathological examination of the cases, in 106 cases (%4,0) histopathology play a role in determining the cause of death by alone, in 1416 cases (%53,2) confirmed the diagnosis in determining the cause of death, in 306 cases (%11,5) contributes to the determination of cause of death and in 836 cases (%31,4) there was no specific findings or diagnosis that determines the cause of death. Conclusion: After an autopsy, samples taken from cases with histopathological diagnosis has been found to help in determining the cause of death than relatively low impact in determining the cause of death by alone, also brought on by increase the cost of obtaining the sample and difficulties of the handling, storage and disposal it was considered that i would be more beneficial for sample taken from some cases instead of doing routine histopathological examination.