title: Silent liver diseases in autopsies from forensic medicine of Tehran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Histology is the unique method for diagnosis of silent liver diseases; so, we aimed to determine the prevalence of fatty liver and other silent liver diseases among those who passed away for causes other than liver diseases in Tehran.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over a two-year period (2002 - 2004) we enrolled autopsies performed at the Forensic Medicine Center in Tehran. Demographic information, history of known acute and chronic liver diseases, and causes of death were determined. Samples from the right and left lobe and one sample from deeper areas of the liver as well as specimens from any grossly visible lesions were obtained in each case. Tissue sections stained by hematoxylin and eosin were evaluated. Reticulin and Masson's trichrome stains were also performed for evaluation of liver architecture and degree of fibrosis when necessary.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Satisfactory tissue samples for histologic evaluation were available in 896 cases (777 males) with a mean age of 43.8 years. Normal histology was found in 467 cases (52.1%). Important findings included: steatosis in 283 (31.6%), steatohepatitis in 19 (2.1%), chronic hepatitis in 23 (2.6%), and cirrhosis in 7 (0.8%) cases. Causes of death were: trauma (35%), acute myocardial infarction (30%), opiate overdose (13%), cerebrovascular accidents (4%), infectious diseases (3%), and others (15%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Silent diseases of the liver are not uncommon. Steatosis is the most common finding but inflammatory disorders comprise a significant minority.
authors.affiliation: Digestive Disease Research Center, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. setoodeh@ams.ac.ir
authors.forename: Rasoul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sotoudehmanesh
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sotoudeh
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ali-Asgari
authors.forename: Behnoush
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Abedi-Ardakani
authors.forename: Seyed-Mohammad
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Tavangar
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khakinejad
authors.forename: Zohreh
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sadeghi
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malekzadeh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001344:Autopsy; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D007492:Iran; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors