[Post mortem examination in tuberculosis: A 10 year observational study in the San Juan de Dios General Hospital, Guatemala]

Abstract

Introduction: Tuberculosis is a very important health problem worldwide. Early detection and adequate treatment of this disease is also a problem in low income countries. Post mortem examination has enabled tuberculosis to be diagnosed, even in cases without a clinical diagnosis of the disease.

Objective: To determine the number of tuberculosis cases diagnosed on autopsy during a period of 10 years, at the San Juan de Dios General Hospital, Guatemala (SJDGH).

Material and methods: The final autopsy reports at the between April 2006 and March 2016 were reviewed. H&E and special stains in cases with a diagnosis of tuberculosis were revised for confirmation.

Results: During the 10 years reviewed, 859 autopsies had been carried out, 21 of which had the diagnosis of tuberculosis; 18 were adults and 3 were children and the majority (80.95%) were cases of pulmonary tuberculosis. However, in only 5 cases had there been a clinical suspicion, but without further investigation and none had a confirmed clinical diagnosis of tuberculosis. No patients had documented HIV/AIDS.

Conclusion: Autopsy continues to be important in the study of disease. In this retrospective study, 21 cases of tuberculosis in 21 cases were found in patients with no clinical diagnosis of the disease.

Keywords: Estudio post mortem; Extrapulmonary tuberculosis; Post mortem study; Pulmonary tuberculosis; Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis extrapulmonar; Tuberculosis pulmonar.