Clinicopathological analysis of 50 autopsy cases of fetal and early neonatal death

Abstract

We analyzed 50 autopsy cases of fetal and early neonatal death that were requested by obstetricians at Kansai Medical University. Twenty-seven cases were diagnosed as congenital anomalies, and eight cases were diagnosed as intrauterine fetal death caused by abnormalities of the umbilical cord, such as umbilical cord torsion. Among the congenital anomaly cases, there were eight cases each of Potter syndrome and fetal hydrops. Of these Potter syndrome and fetal hydrops cases, 10 cases were complicated by lung hypoplasia. In 9 of the 50 autopsy cases (18%), the cause of death was unexplained; these cases included macerated fetuses (n=3), macerated and small body weight (under 500g) fetuses (n=3), and cases which were neither macerated nor small body weight fetuses (n=3). The remaining six cases included abnormalities of placenta (n=2), intrauterine infections (n=2), meconium aspiration syndrome (n=1), and discordant twin (n=1). Moribund anatomy has been recognized as a valuable tool in identifying fetal abnormalities and cause of fetal death.[Adv Obstet Gynecol, 68 (2) : 75-81, 2016(H28.5)]