Pathological study of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) through postmortem core biopsies
Sufang Tian, Yong Xiong, Huan Liu, Li Niu, Jianchun Guo, Meiyan Liao & Shu-Yuan Xiao
Modern Pathology (2020)
Abstract
Data on pathologic changes of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are scarce. To gain knowledge about the pathology that may contribute to disease progression and fatality, we performed postmortem needle core biopsies of lung, liver, and heart in four patients who died of COVID-19 pneumonia. The patients’ ages ranged from 59 to 81, including three males and one female. Each patient had at least one underlying disease, including immunocompromised status (chronic lymphocytic leukemia and renal transplantation) or other conditions (cirrhosis, hypertension, and diabetes).