Adrenals

Author: Mikael Häggström

Main targets

• Adrenal tumors
  Adrenal tumors

Autopsy

Autopsy processing

In autopsy, make a couple of cuts through the adrenal glands, such as transversal ones, and look mainly for adrenal tumors. A comprehensive approach is to remove the adrenals, trim them from excessive adherent fat, and weight them.

• Adrenal cortical necrosis. Hemorrhage, fibrin thrombi and short postmortem interval indicate ante-mortem necrosis, otherwise it can be regarded as a postmortem change.[1]
  Adrenal cortical necrosis. Hemorrhage, fibrin thrombi and short postmortem interval indicate ante-mortem necrosis, otherwise it can be regarded as a postmortem change.
• Adrenal venous congestion in circulatory failure.
  Adrenal venous congestion in circulatory failure.

Autopsy report

Normal status:

• Minimal: Adrenal glands are normal bilaterally.
• Moderate length: Adrenal glands are ordinarily configured and with no definable focal changes on cut surfaces.

Main page

• Main page of Patholines