[Autopsy study of 4074 pediatric cases].

4074 pediatric autopsies were performed in the Pathology Department of Guangzhou Children's Hospital from 1958 to 1992. The autopsy rate was 23.9%. However, the autopsy rate from 1958 to 1965 was higher (38.90%) than that for 1966 to 1976 (13.20%). Since 1977, the autopsy rate increased to 24.80% but still lower than the period between 1959 to 1965. Based upon the pathologic diagnosis, incorrect antemortem diagnosis was found in 22% of cases. It is of interest to note that the percentage of incorrect diagnosis was lower during the 1958-1969 period than the 1970-1992 period (15.30% and 25% and 25.8% respectively). This suggests that adoption of advanced diagnostic technique have not diminished the role of postmortem examination to confirm or correct clinical diagnosis.