Autopsy in Epidemiology and Medical Research (IARC Scientific Publications)

This important volume reviews the contribution of autopsy data to epidemiological research. Among the topics covered are the use of autopsy data in cancer registries or epidemiological surveys, and the use of data on mortality from specific causes corrected on the basis of the autopsy report. The inclusion (or exclusion) of cases correctly (or incorrectly) diagnosed as having suffered from a given disease in etiological studies is discussed. The book also examines the contribution in assessing the accuracy of clinical diagnosis; autopsy rate and findings; diagnostic procedures and time trends in diagnostic accuracy, particularly in relation to cancer; evaluation of the accuracy of new imaging diagnostic procedures; and the importance of autopsy in monitoring the accuracy of death certificates for routine mortality statistics.