A A +A
Jata

WELCOME TO OFFICIAL PORTAL
MYHEALTH MINISTRY OF HEALTH MALAYSIA

  1. Laman Utama
  2. /
  3. GENERAL
  4. /
  5. Forensic
  6. /
  7. Forensic Histopathology

Forensic Histopathology

Histopathology is a branch of pathology expertise that includes research and analysis of biological tissue at microscopic level to detect any disease or abnormality.

Introduction

Forensic Medicine is a unique field compared to other medical fields. One of the explicit roles of Forensic Medicine is to conduct postmortem examination. Postmortem examination is a procedure whereby a forensic pathology expert thoroughly examines a body to fulfill the needs of the investigation of death on death cases under the provisions of the Laws of Malaysia. Contrary to other medical procedures which are more incline to diagnostic, therapeutic, or prognostic approach, our discipline is more towards an investigation process. The basic goal of any postmortem examination is to find the cause of death as required under section 328, Criminal Procedure Code. According to this section, the meaning of death is not just limited to the obvious cause of death could be determined from postmortem examination, but also covers all matters or findings that may help to shape the way of the death (manner of death). In other words, the concept of the death in medicolegal point of view is far more extensive and thorough than clinical death (clinical cause of death).

To meet these terms, a forensic postmortem examination needed to be carried out in full. Forensic postmortem examination is basically comprised of four components or stages:

  1. External examination of the body.
  2. Internal examination and dissection of organs.
  3. Histopathological examination of postmortem tissue samples.
  4. Other laboratory tests i.e.; toxicology, biochemistry, microbiology or serology.

Histopathology is a branch of pathology expertise that includes research and analysis of biological tissue at microscopic level to detect any disease or abnormality. In general, the field of histopathology expertise is comprised of:

  1. Clinical / surgical histopathology, where the histopathological examination performed on tissue samples obtained from living patients in wards, clinics and operating theaters, and it is aimed at the diagnostic and prognostic level. It is a branch of pathology expertise. Its primary objective is to diagnose a patient for further treatments.
  2. Forensic Histopathology, histopathological examination is performed on dead tissue samples obtained from postmortem examination, and it is aimed at investigation of a case. It is a subspecialty branch of forensic pathology. Its main objective is to help determine the cause of death and matters related to the death. Accordingly, microscopic analysis was carried out to meet the forensic investigation requirement rather than treating patients.

These two areas of histopathology are basically quite similar, utilizing the same processing techniques and relatively similar type of specimen. However, there are four differences noted between the two fields histopathology which are as stated below:

  1. Types of expertise; clinical histopathology is a clinical investigation, whereas forensic histopathology is a medicolegal investigation.
  2. The origins of tissue samples; clinical histopathology specimens comes from living patients, while forensic histopathology specimens comes from dead body.
  3. Sampling method; clinical histopathology acquires their tissue via biopsy or surgery, while forensic histology acquires from postmortem procedure.
  4. The basic goal; forensic histopathology is aiming to investigate a case, while clinical histopathology is more towards treating a patient.

Importance of Forensic Histopathology

Forensic Histopathology warranties the quality of post-mortem examination because in an evidence-based medicine practiced in the present age, forensic postmortem examination is no longer limited to dissection or macroscopic examination alone, but should be carried out at the microscopic level as well. Studies on the street by de la Grandmaison et al. 2010 on the application of systematic histological examination, of 428 cases of post-mortem, findings show approximately 40% of cases didn’t show their death mechanism through macroscopic observation, yet can be identified by histological examination.

Forensic Histopathology also helps in completing the post-mortem report in concluding the cause of death, i.e.; in cases of sudden death. Many diseases related to sudden death can be explained, such as William Williams-Beuren syndrome or syndrome (WBS), which can cause sudden death in children and young adults in particular (Wessel et al 2004;. Krous et al 2008;. Suarez-Mier and Morentin 1999 Bird et.al 1996), especially related to anesthetic (Gupta et.al 2005) and Lethal leptospirosis (Weil Morbus).

It also provides additional information to further strengthen the cause of death. The study conducted by de la Grandmaison et al. 2010 showed that histological examination provides additional information on the health problems of the deceased prior to the death of about 49% of all cases.

Forensics community has so far agreed on the need to perform histological examination of post-mortem cases. Some authors argued that microscopic examination should be performed only if needed, but not as a routine procedure (Moline et al., 2007). Some concluded that there is a large difference between the macroscopic and microscopic findings in the forensic autopsy, which may lead to confusion. However, histology is an important feature which can assess the quality of postmortem examination, which can be used to verify, correct or refute the findings of the macroscopic (De la Grandmaison et al., 2010).

Forensic Histopathology Laboratory

Forensic Histopathology Laboratory comprises of various equipments which the following processes :

  • Grossing
  • Tissue processing
  • Embedding
  • Cold plate
  • Microtome sectioning & Water bath
  • H&E Staining or special stain (upon request)
  • Mounting dan Slide
  • Microscope


    (Source : Tarrant County Medical Examiner and Forensic Science Laboratories Serving Tarrant, Denton and Parker Counties)

 

Last Reviewed : 23 August 2019
Writer : Ismadi b. Ismail
Translator : Muhd. Yazid b. Suhaimi
Accreditor / Reviewer : Dr. Khoo Lay See

 

Related Article

Communication Technology

There are variety of communication methods that may help people with complex communication needs to improve communication abilities that include the use of smartphones, tablets and computers.

ADDRESS

Bahagian Pendidikan Kesihatan,
Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia,
Aras 1-3, Blok E10, Kompleks E,
Kompleks Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,
62590 Putrajaya, Malaysia.

GENERAL LINE :   +603 8000 8000

FAX :   +603 8888 6200

EMAIL :   myhealth@moh.gov.my

VISITORS : 219,222,548

LAST UPDATE :
2024-03-19 08:57:27
FOLLOW US

BEST VIEW   Best viewed with Internet Explorer 10 and above, Mozilla Firefox 40 above, or Google Chrome 40 and above or Safari 4 and above with minimum resolution at 1366 x 768

Copyright ©2005-2022 Health Online Unit, Ministry of Health Malaysia