Male 59 years

Became short of breath on aircraft. Collapsed. CPR unsuccessful. Known asthmatic. Macroscopic examination showed a right hyperinflated lung. Mucous plugs were present within the airways. No other significant findings present. Two blocks of lung.

Male 79 years

Diagnosed with mesothelioma of the lung a few months ago. No asbestos exposure. Chemotherapy planned. Recent general deterioration with a UTI. Renal function impairment. Continued to deteriorate and unfortunately died. Macroscopic examination showed obliteration of the right pleural cavity by tumour consistent with mesothelioma. Two blocks of tumour, one block of lung and one block of kidney.

Male 45 years

Known intravenous drug user. Admitted with confusion and hypotension. Blood cultures showed Gram-positive cocci. Echocardiogram showed rupture of the anterior mitral valve. Too unwell for cardiac surgery, and unfortunately died. Macroscopic examination showed a 4cm vegetation on the mitral valve with damage to the cusp, a 3cm haematoma within the cerebellum and an infarct in the parietal lobe. Two blocks of brain, two blocks of lung, two blocks of mitral valve.

Female 38 years

Known previous heavy drinker. Recent history of abdominal pain and vomiting. Found collapsed in pulseless electrical activity. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation commenced but unfortunately unsuccessful. Macroscopic examination showed gastric contents within the upper airways, heavy lungs, and a cystic mass within the pancreas that appear to be compressing the duodenum. The liver was normal macroscopically and microscopically showed only mild steatosis. (one block pancreas, one block lung).

Male 78 years

Recent travel to Asia. Since then had increasing shortness of breath and cough. Respiratory failure commenced. All microbiology tests negative. Unfortunately died. Past medical history of ischaemic heart disease. Macroscopic examination showed severe atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries, and grossly consolidated heavy beefy lungs. Two blocks of lung.

Male 54 years

Known heavy drinker. Found collapsed at home. Taken to A&E by ambulance and cardiopulmonary resuscitation commenced. Unfortunately this was unsuccessful. Macroscopic examination showed a firm nodular liver weighing 2032g. One block liver.

Female 52 years

Heart transplant due to cardiomyopathy. The donor heart had been functioning well immediately postoperatively. On attempting to come off bypass the implanted heart suffered segmental wall motility abnormalities. The patient remained unwell over the following days, and unfortunately died three days postoperatively. Macroscopic examination showed 80% stenosis of the coronary arteries and a short segment of thrombus at the bifurcation of the left main stem artery. One block coronary artery, two blocks myocardium.

Female 80 years

Past medical history of rheumatoid arthritis, COPD and atrial fibrillation. Recently feeling unwell and drowsy. She was treated for a possible infection, but continued to deteriorate. No diagnosis prior to death. Macroscopic examination showed a large mass in the region of the pancreas measuring 5cm in maximum diameter, together with adjacent enlarged lymph nodes. One block 'pancreatic' mass.