title: Frequency of tuberculosis at autopsies in a large hospital in Zagreb, Croatia: a 10-year retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the frequency and forms of pulmonary tuberculosis at autopsy in a high-traffic hospital in the capital city of a country with a low tuberculosis incidence.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective search of autopsy data from the period 2000 to 2009 at Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia. We also examined patients' records and histological slides.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 3479 autopsies, we identified 61 tuberculosis cases, corresponding to a frequency of 1.8%. Active tuberculosis was found in 33 cases (54%), 23 of which (70%) were male. Of the 33 active cases, 25 (76%) were clinically unrecognized and 19 (76%) of these were male.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinically undiagnosed tuberculosis accounted for a substantial proportion of active tuberculosis cases diagnosed at autopsy. Autopsy data may be an important complement to epidemiological data on tuberculosis frequency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Sestre Milosrdnice University, Hospital Centre, Vinogradska cesta 29, Zagreb, Croatia. ivana.pavic@kbcsm.hr
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pavić
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Radulović
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bujas
authors.forename: Melita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perić Balja
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ostojić
authors.forename: Drinko
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Balicević
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology*