Are autopsies useful? Do premorbid findings predict postmortem results in head and neck cancer patients?
A total of 53 autopsies were analysed in patients with head and neck squamous carcinoma. The discordance rate, that is the proportion of autopsies that revealed new information, was 53%. One-third of patients did not die of cancer. Clinical findings either misdiagnosed or under-diagnosed loco regional disease in 34% of cases, and distant malignant disease in 36% of cases. It appears that the autopsy reveals new and useful information in the head and neck cancer patient, and consent should be sought.
Jennings
C R
CR
Department of ENT, Queens Medical Centre, University Hospital, Nottingham, UK.
Bradley
P J
PJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy; D002423:Cause of Death; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity