Tuberculous Lesions at Autopsy

Tuberculosis (TB) today remains one of the world's most lethal infectious diseases. Despite the availability of effective treatment for most cases, tuberculosis is still a cause of death in our environment. Some cases of active tuberculosis are not identified until after the patient had died and an autopsy has been performed. This study was done to determine the prevalence of tuberculosis in autopsy cases. We analysed all the autopsy cases sent for histopathology over a period of one month. 8.7% cases of active tuberculosis were found in autopsy specimens, of which 60% were males. Tuberculosis was suspected in only 40% of patients before death. Tuberculosis is not an uncommon finding at autopsy for most of autopsy surgeons, but as the cause of death it is not so common. The presence of unspecific symptomatology, insufficient cost-effectiveness of the diagnostic tests and precocious death, are identified as the most frequent causes of undiagnosed tuberculosis. Awareness of tuberculosis and its high prevalence in India is essential for minimising missed diagnoses. Absence of suspicion and delayed diagnosis mean increased risk in health care and at autopsy.