Uncommon histopathological findings in fatal measles infection: pancreatitis, sialoadenitis and thyroiditis.
OBJECTIVE
We report uncommon histopathological findings in fatal measles infection.


RESULTS
We describe the autopsies of four patients who died during a measles outbreak in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1997. Two of the patients were children receiving chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, one was an adult with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and the fourth was an apparently healthy woman. All patients had their deaths attributed to measles pneumonia. The autopsies revealed extensive giant cell pneumonia and diffuse alveolar damage, severe acute pancreatitis, necrotizing sialoadenitis and thyroiditis due to measles. Measles antigen was detected in lung tissue using a monoclonal anti-measles antibody.


CONCLUSIONS
: Pancreatitis, thyroiditis and sialoadenitis are not previously reported histopathological findings in measles infection. Pancreatitis is a potentially severe complication and should be considered when treating patients with atypical measles.
Department of Pathology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.
P A
PA
Vargas
F D
FD
Bernardi
V A
VA
Alves
M A
MA
Gianotti
O P
OP
Almeida
P H
PH
Saldiva
T
T
Mauad
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D012793:Sialadenitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000473:pathology; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology; D013966:Thyroiditis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology