Gross Descriptions for Necropsy

Nota:

• start with organ then anatomical location (lobes, surfaces, cortex vs medulla, bilateral-symmectrical, bilateral-asymmetrical) 

Nota:

• number effected don't use a number that is too high to count

1. Focal

   Nota:

   • single lesion
2. Multifocal

   Nota:

   • multiple, discrete lesions separated by unaffected parenchyma
3. Multifocal to coalescing

   Nota:

   • the multifocal lesions occasionally merge
4. Generalized

   Nota:

   • numerous foci scattered relatively evenly throughout the entire organ
5. Milliary

   Nota:

   • very numerous, small multiple foci
6. Locally extensive

   Nota:

   • lesion is convergent and involves large percentage of the tissue
7. Diffuse

   Nota:

   • the entire organ is involved

Nota:

• for all lesions either inflammatory or neoplastic

1. Measurements

   Nota:

   • in metric in 3D
2. Weight

   Nota:

   • compare to normal or to the unaffected paired organ
3. Relative size

1. Botryoid

   Nota:

   • multiple grape-like clusters
2. Level/flat

   Nota:

   • neither raised nor depressed
3. Depressed

   Nota:

   • below adjacent surfaces
4. Raised

   Nota:

   • elevated
5. Linear

   Nota:

   • strips running lengthwise
6. Clearly demarcated

   Nota:

   • defined borders
7. Poorly demarcated

   Nota:

   • no defined borders
8. Pedunculated

   Nota:

   • narrow stalk-like base
9. Sessile

   Nota:

   • broad base of attachment

Nota:

• only described in abnormal tissue/organ primary colors only and combine colors as necessary can use modifiers like dull, shiny, opaque

1. white

   Nota:

   • lack of blood, leukocytic infiltrate, connective tissue deposition (collagen), fibrosis (scars), necrosis (in some cases), presence of fat infliltrate
2. translucent

   Nota:

   • air in tissue (emphysema) fluid in tissue (edema)
3. yellow

   Nota:

   • jaundice due to hemolysis, liver disease, bile duct obstruction pseudoicterus due to high ingestion of beta carotene and in horses due to anorexia, dehydration, young animal
4. black

   Nota:

   • melanin, old hemorrhage (melena), pseudomelanosis (this is a post mortem production of hydrogen sulfide)
5. red

   Nota:

   • due to congestion, hemorrhage, bruising

Nota:

• soft, firm, hard spongy, resilient, tense, turgic, porous, fluctuant

Nota:

• smooth, gritty, mucoid, granular, sandy, sticky, slippery, wet

Nota:

• some diseases have specific odor characteristics