[Values of the autopsy in the university hospitals illustrated by the casuistry].
OBJECTIVE
Clinical autopsy rate have been declining since the 1950s, but it remains a useful investigation tool.


RESULTS
Through six examples of our experience, we underline its interest for clinical, didactic and public health purposes.


CONCLUSIONS
We try to understand the reasons for its decline and, as demonstrated, it can be attributed to a number of factors. These need to be addressed in order to reassert the status of the autopsy as an investigation and audit tool which is crucial to the future effectiveness of modern medicine.
Duband
S
S
Service d'anatomie et cytologie pathologiques, hôpital Bellevue, CHU de Saint-Etienne, 42055 Saint-Etienne cedex 2, France. sebastien.duband@chu-st-etienne.fr
Raoux
D
D
Dumollard
J-M
JM
Debout
M
M
Péoc'h
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis; D001344:Autopsy; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D032764:Casuistry; D002423:Cause of Death; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004077:Digoxin / Q000009:adverse effects; D004501:Education, Medical; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000139:chemically induced; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008382:Marfan Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D008584:Meningitis, Listeria / Q000175:diagnosis; D008586:Meningitis, Pneumococcal / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis
D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D004077:Digoxin