Pathology of COVID-19: Atlas

Excerpt

This Atlas is the result of the autopsies performed by the Moscow Pathology Service for the posthumous diagnosis of presentations and complications of COVID-19 in 2000 cases, the largest number of autopsies of COVID-19 cases in the world. This was accomplished because in Moscow an autopsy is performed in 100 % of fatal cases with suspected COVID-19 with a detailed clinical and morphological analysis. The results of the studies formed the basis of a new methodology that expands upon WHO Guidelines for Certification and Classification (Coding) of COVID-19 as Cause of Death. Transferring this methodology into practice allowed not only to improve reporting of COVID-19-related deaths, but also had a significant impact on the management strategies of COVID-19 patients. A contribution to the theory of pathology is the introduction of the concept of clinical and morphological “masks” of COVID-19. Atlas presents a wide range of signs and complications of COVID-19, which outline ways for further study of their pathogenesis and morphogenesis, improvement of diagnostics and treatment of patients, and a detailed classification of the causes of death directly or indirectly associated with COVID-19.

Atlas is intended for pathologists, forensic experts, as well as doctors of all clinical specialties and students in medical schools, including those in advanced training programs of continuing medical education.