BIOPSY:
- Removal of cells or tissue for examination from a living subject to
determine the presence or extent of a disease.
> Excisional biopsy ---> when an entire lump of suspicious area is removed.
> Incisional or core biopsy ---> when only a sample of tissues is removed
with preservation of the histological architecture of tissue’s cell.
> Fine needle aspiration biopsy ---> when a sample of tissue or fluid is
removed with a needle.
OTHER TYPES OF BIOPSIES:
> PUNCH BIOPSY
A punch of biopsy is done with a circular blade. Ranging in size from
1mm to 8 mm. The blade, which is attached to a pencil like handle is rotated
down through the epidermis and dermis, and into the subcutaneous fat
producing a cylindrical core of tissue sample.
> SHAVE BIOPSY
A shave biopsy is done either with a small scalpel blade or a curved
razor blade.
> CURETTAGE BIOPSY
A curettage biopsy can be done on the surface of tumors or on small
epidermal lesions with minimal to no topical anesthetic using round curette
blade.
NECROSPY: Removal of cells or tissues for examination from the dead
AUTOPSY:
 POST MORTEM EXAMINATION OR AUTOPSIA CADEVERUM
- After death examination of the body and dissection of its internal
organs to confirm or determine the cause of death.
- Autopsy can uncover the existence of the diseases not detected
during life, determine the extent of injuries may have contributed to a
person’s death.
- Once an internal autopsy is complete, the body is reconstituted
by sewing it back together.
FOUR MAIN TYPES OF AUTOPSY:
1. Medico legal autopsy or Forensicorcoroner's autopsies:
a) This seek to find the cause and manner of death and to identify the
deceased.
b) They are generally executed, as dictated by applicable law, in
cases of violent, suspicious or sudden deaths, deaths withous
medical assistance or during surgical procedures. It is performed
by a police surgeon.
- Death is classified into one of the five headings:
1. Natural
 2. Accident a) Is performed by utilizing imaging technology only, primarily
3. Homicide magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography
4. Suicide scanning (CT-scan).
5. Undetermined
TWO PARTS OF THE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:
2. Clinical or Pathological autopsies: 1. External examination
a) Is performed to diagnose a particular disease or for research 2. Internal examination
purposes. a) Toxicology
b) It aims to determined, clarify or confirm medical diagnosis that b) Biochemical test
remained unknown or unclear prior to the patient’s death. c) Genetic testing
c) Also performed to gain more insight into pathological processes
and determine what factors contributed to a patient’s death. External examination:
d) Clinical autopsies are sometimes performed to assess the standard > Photograph
care of hospitals. It is done by a pathologist. > Note the clothing position
e) Can yield an insight on how patients death can be prevented in the > Evidence residues (UV)
future. > Samples of hair and nails
> After external evidence is collected, the body is removed from
3. Anatomical or Academic autopsy: the bag and is undressed for the examination of wounds.
a) Are performed by students of anatomy for study purpose. > Clean the body, weighed and measured
b) Also usually possible when a person has given permission in > General description of the body as regards ethnicity, sex, age,
advance of their death. hair color and length, eye color and other distinguishing
features. (birthmarks, old scar tissues and moles)
> Hand held voice recorder

4. Virtual or Medical imaging autopsies (Virtopsy):

Internal examination:
 Y shaped incision: Can be made starting at the top of each shoulder and
running down the front of the chest, meeting at the lower point of the
sternum.
 This is the approach most often used.
 Allow the maximum exposure of the neck structure for later
detailed examination.
 Essential in cases of strangulation.
 T shaped incision: Made from the tips of both shoulder in a horizontal
line across the region of the collar bones to meet at the sternum in the
middle.
 Single vertical cut: Made from the middle of the neck (in the region of
the Adam’s apple on a male body).

KINDS OF AUTOPSIES:
1. Autopsy of Virchow: Where each organ is taken out one by one
2. Autopsy of Letolle: Where organs are taken out en-bloc. (all together in a
united group; en-mass: all together as a group)
3. Autopsy of Rokitansky: Where the organs are examined in-situ.
(locally/on site/on the premises/in place)
4. Autopsy of Ghon: Where organs are taken out in 3 separate blocks.
a) Cervical region
b) Abdominal region
c) Urogenital region