title: Autopsy findings of fetal death.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the autopsy findings associated with fetal death in the division of reproductive pathology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive study of 35 fetal deaths with placentas after postmortem examinations in the division of reproductive pathology between January 2005 and December 2005. The fetal deaths and placentas were examined by a perinatal pathologist in the surgical pathology room, Department of Pathology and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University. The demographic data of the mothers, the gestational age from obstetric information, diagnosis before abortus or delivery. The postmortem examinations including abnormal macroscopic or microscopic findings were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The associated pathologies of fetal death could be identified 87.5% for groups of fetal weight less than 500 grams and in 77.8% for groups of fetal weight 500 grams or more. The most common associated pathology of fetal death in both groups was congenital anomaly, was 50% and 25.9% respectively. Macerated fetuses were found in 48.2% of all cases. Causes of macerated groups were identified in 66.7% of cases. Hydropic fetuses were 14.3% (5 cases) of all fetal deaths in which the cause of death was identified before delivery in two cases and was identified in postmortem examination in one case. Thus, the identified causes of fetal death in hydrops fetalis were 60%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most common associated pathology of fetal deaths is congenital anomaly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Thailand.
authors.forename: Pilaiwan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kleebkaow
authors.forename: Thawalwong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ratanasiri
authors.forename: Ratana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Komwilaisak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001344:Autopsy; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D015160:Hydrops Fetalis; D011247:Pregnancy