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Objective:In our study, we aimed to determine the accompanying cardiac pathologies and accompanying findings in other organs in the cases of giant cell myocarditis.Methods:The histopathology reports of the autopsied cases between 2011 and 2020 were reviewed. Cases diagnosed with myocarditis were evaluated retrospectively according to their histopathological pattern. According to the histopathological pattern, it was divided into subgroups as neutrophilic, lymphocytic, lymphohistiocytic, eosinophilic, myocarditis accompanied by granulomas, and giant cell myocarditis. Age and gender distribution, death patterns, autopsy findings, concomitant cardiac pathologies, and histopathological findings in other organs of the cases diagnosed with giant cell myocarditis were evaluated retrospectively.Results:Between 2011 and 2020, 558 of 49,612 autopsies performed in Morgue Department of the Council of Forensic Medicine were diagnosed as myocarditis in the histopathological examination. 1.02% (n=6) were giant cell myocarditis. Three of the cases with giant cell myocarditis were male and three were female. Histopathological findings were similar in all cases diagnosed with giant cell myocarditis. The mean age was found to be 55.66 (31-80). Heart weight ranged from 433-740 gram. Mononuclear cells, polymorphonuclear leukocytes and, eosinophils accompanying giant cells were seen in the inflammatory infiltrate with necrosis. On macroscopic examination, variegated discoloration and scarring on the ventricular wall was the most common finding. Giant cell myocarditis resulted was the cause of death in four cases. Lobular pneumonia was observed in the lungs in two cases. One case had acalculous cholecystitis.Conclusion:Autopsy and histopathological diagnosis in sudden and unexpected deaths gain importance to diagnose giant cell myocarditis.

Objective:It is aimed to reveal the demographic characteristics of patients who died due to non-traumatic aortic dissection, the findings that will increase the risk of aneurysm and dissection, and the complications that develop after dissection, in the light of histopathological findings.Methods:One hundred thirty-eight cases diagnosed with non-traumatic aortic dissection, whose autopsies were performed in Council of Forensic Medicine Morgue Department between 2014 and 2018, were retrospectively analyzed. Age and gender distribution, body mass index, distribution of dissection types, complications that may develop after dissection in organs, and histopathological changes in the aortic wall were evaluated.Results:Cardiac tamponade was detected in 67.4% (n=93) of the cases, tamponade and hemothorax in 15.9% (n=22) and hemothorax in 11.6% (n=16). 5.1% (n=7) had a bicuspid aortic valve. 28.2% (n=39) had atherosclerosis, 21.7% (n=30) had elastic degeneration, and 10.8% (n=15) had cystic medial necrosis. In 55.8% (n=77), pathological changes in the vessel wall were not reported. There was widespread intraalveolar bleeding in 34.8% (n=48) and focal intraalveolar hemorrhage in 6.5% (n=9). When cardiac findings were examined, myocardial infarction was observed in 2.2% (n=3).Conclusion:In cases of aortic dissection, a detailed macroscopic and microscopic examination should be performed together with the clinical history. Histopathological examination of the dissected area is important in demonstrating the underlying factors. Histopathological findings in the organs may be useful in predicting the complications of the disease. Autopsy has a critical importance not only in recognizing and understanding the disease, but also in determining the treatment methods to be applied for the disease.

Background and aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a growing global epidemic in Türkiye and worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and predictors of MASLD and steatohepatitis among adults who died of unnatural causes including sudden death and non-burn trauma. Method: We conducted a prospective review of all consecutive adult forensic autopsies for natural (sudden unexpected) and non-natural (Suicidal, homicidal and accidental) suspicious deaths carried out at the Istanbul Council of Forensic Medicine from February to May 2022. Four wedge biopsies were extracted from sagittal sectioned liver specimens. A liver pathologist with 20 years of experience examined each case for steatosis, ballooning, inflammation, and fibrosis. Results: Among 1797 autopsies, 62 met inclusion criteria. Overall, 43.3 % (n = 26) of autopsies showed evidence of steatotic liver disease, with a distribution of steatosis severity as: Grade I (28.3 %), Grade II (6.6 %), and Grade III (8.3 %). All these cases met at least one cardiometabolic criteria and diagnosed with MASLD. Ballooning was observed in 20.0 % of cases (5 cases grades 1 and 7 cases grade 2), and Inflammation was present in 51.7 % (9 cases with grade 0–1, 12 with 1–2, 7 with 2–3, and 3 with 5–6). Notably, 46.1 % (n = 12) of MASLD cases and 20.0 % (n = 12) of all cases were diagnosed with steatohepatitis, with three cases exhibiting delicate perisinusoidal fibrosis and one case showing portal fibrosis. Conclusion: The histopathological findings from this autopsy study confirmed the markedly high prevalence of MASLD and steatohepatitis within the general adult population, highlighting the concerning burden of steatotic liver disease in Türkiye.