Patterns of invasion and metastasis of malignant tumors in autopsy specimens of incarcerated individuals: A retrospective study.

Abstract

The incarcerated population constitute a unique and susceptible group of patients. Cancer is the primary cause of mortality in prisons, being responsible for almost 30% of all fatalities. The objective of this study is to analyze the cancer diagnosis, types, rates, system-wise distribution, and metastasis in the autopsy of the incarcerated population sent for histopathological investigation at a tertiary-care center of Jharkhand. A retrospective descriptive study was undertaken in the Department of Pathology, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi. The study included all the medicolegal autopsies performed over a period of 4 years, from April 2020 to March 2024. Among 375 cases, 24 (6.4%) were diagnosed as malignant cancers among the incarcerated population. Adenocarcinomas were the most common type, accounting for 10 cases (41.6%) while metastasis was detected in 14 (58.3%) cases with lymph nodes showing the highest incidence of metastatic deposits. Out of the total number of cases, four (16.6%) were found to have cancers primarily located in the stomach. The current study demonstrates that the incarcerated population in Jharkhand has elevated rates of metastasis.