Case Report: Suspected COVID-19 death in the community - histological lung findings and the challenges faced by the pathologist

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐ 19) has now been declared a global pandemic. The literature on the histopathological changes associated with COVID-19 infection is currently limited. Early data consistently describe diffuse alveolar damage on lung histology from patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. We present the case of a 65-year-old female who died whilst self-isolating in the community following a short history of symptoms consistent with COVID-19. An invasive autopsy and subsequent lung histology demonstrated diffuse alveolar damage, in keeping with the previously reported cases of COVID-19 pneumonia. We hope to contribute to the growing body of literature available on the pathological findings in such cases. The challenges of ascertaining post mortem virological confirmation of infection are discussed.