title: Lung cancer, pulmonary emphysema and pleural effusion: An autopsy study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the exact incidence of lung cancer, pulmonary emphysema and pleural effusion we decided to carry out an autopsy study.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this autopsy study carried out over two years, we compared the results of autopsy findings with the clinical data in accompanying records of the deceased.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 708 deceased subjects, there were 398 males and 310 females with a median age of 71 years. At autopsy, 55 cases of lung carcinoma (BCA) were found, of which 24 have not been identified during life (44%). Among the deceased with BCA, emphysema was also observed at autopsy in 40% of the cases. Pulmonary emphysema was described macroscopically in 28% of the full set of 708 deceased, whereas the accompanying records of the deceased described this condition in only 12% of the cases. Microscopic changes compatible with emphysema were identified in 54% of the examined lungs. Pleural effusions were described in the accompanying records of 13% of the deceased, while the autopsies showed this condition in 33% of the deceased. BCA was accompanied by effusion in 25% of the cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The obtained results show that the studied conditions are present in more cases than are reported by clinicians. The study confirms the commonly accepted association between lung cancer and emphysema.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pneumology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Faculty Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Miloslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pneumology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Faculty Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Leona
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Koubkova
authors.affiliation: Department of Pneumology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Faculty Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kovarikova
authors.affiliation: Department of Pneumology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Faculty Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Alzbeta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grandcourtova
authors.affiliation: Department of Pneumology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Faculty Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Frantisek
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petrik
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Faculty Hospital Motol, Prague.
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hroudova
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Faculty Hospital Motol, Prague.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Capkova
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Faculty Hospital Motol, Prague.
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kodet
authors.affiliation: Department of Pneumology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Faculty Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Libor
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fila
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D018153:Czech Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: autopsy pathology; emphysema; lung cancer; pleural effusion