Respiratory pathologic findings are said to be common in autopsy populations, however their nature and true prevalence is not well documented. We reviewed the autopsy protocols of 1107 autopsies performed at UMass Medical Center (Worcester) over an eleven year period, ending April 2, 2007. The data documents an extraordinarily high prevalence of respiratory tract disease among a large cohort of adult patients coming to autopsy at a large tertiary university--based medical center. Among the various diagnostic groups, pneumonia with its attendant morbidity and potential for mortality represented the single largest group of respiratory diseases in this autopsy population.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Walls, Tiffany

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-082107-181520

Advisor

• Adams, David S.

Year

• 2007

Sponsor

• UMass Medical Center

Date created

• 2007-08-21

Location

• Worcester

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright

License

• All rights reserved