Abstract
In the setting of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, only few data regarding lung pathology induced by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is available, especially without medical intervention interfering with the natural evolution of the disease. We present here the first case of forensic autopsy of a COVID-19 fatality occurring in a young woman, in the community. Diagnosis was made at necropsy and lung histology showed diffuse alveolar damage, edema, and interstitial pneumonia with a geographically heterogeneous pattern, mostly affecting the central part of the lungs. This death related to COVID-19 pathology highlights the heterogeneity and severity of central lung lesions after natural evolution of the disease.
Keywords:
COVID-19; Diffuse alveolar damage; Interstitial pneumonia; Post-mortem; SARS-CoV-2.
MeSH terms
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Adenoviridae / genetics
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Adenoviridae / isolation & purification
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Adult
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Alphainfluenzavirus / genetics
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Alphainfluenzavirus / isolation & purification
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Autopsy
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Betacoronavirus* / genetics
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Betacoronavirus* / isolation & purification
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Betainfluenzavirus / genetics
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Betainfluenzavirus / isolation & purification
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Bocavirus / genetics
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Bocavirus / isolation & purification
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C-Reactive Protein / analysis
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COVID-19
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Coronavirus / genetics
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Coronavirus / isolation & purification
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Coronavirus Infections / pathology*
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Female
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Humans
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Lung / pathology*
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Macrophages / pathology
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Megakaryocytes / pathology
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Metapneumovirus / genetics
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Metapneumovirus / isolation & purification
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Neutrophils / pathology
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Obesity, Morbid
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Pandemics
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Pneumonia, Viral / pathology*
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Procalcitonin / blood
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Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / genetics
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Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / isolation & purification
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Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Rhinovirus / genetics
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Rhinovirus / isolation & purification
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SARS-CoV-2
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Switzerland
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T-Lymphocytes / pathology
Substances
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Procalcitonin
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C-Reactive Protein