Establishment of reference ranges for normal organ weights in Malaysian adults at autopsy
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-1-2020
Abstract
Organ weights are routinely measured during autopsies as a crude screening tool to detect possible organ pathology. In several centers, inclusion of major organ weights indicates whether an autopsy report has achieved its standard of practice, which in turn should be subjected to an audit. Previous studies show statistical variation in organ weights across different populations. Malaysian pathologists have relied on Western data and crude subjective determination in the interpretation of normal organ weights. Hence, the need for a reference range as a guide for pathologists is acute. Organ weights from traumatic deaths between 2004 and 2017 were analyzed in the UKM Medical Centre. Statistical analysis was performed to form reference ranges for normal weights of the brain, heart, lung, liver, spleen, and kidneys. In addition, the data were compared between sexes, races, and body mass index values to determine whether organ weights were affected by these parameters. In this study, reference ranges for organ weights are presented for Malaysian adult men and women.
Keywords
Normal organ weights, Malaysian adults, Reference range, Autopsy, Pathology
Divisions
MathematicalSciences
Funders
None
Publication Title
American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology
Volume
41
Issue
2
Publisher
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Publisher Location
TWO COMMERCE SQ, 2001 MARKET ST, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103 USA