Objective: To assess the quality of perinatal autopsy.
Design: Review of all reports of post mortem examinations carried out following perinatal deaths from January 1994 to June 1994.
Population: Former Northern Region of England.
Methods: Assessment of post mortem reports concerning their content and interpretation, the assessment carried out by panel comprising a pathologist, obstetrician and paediatrician.
Results: Reports were available for all 104 cases where post mortem examinations had been undertaken, of which 53 (51%) met the minimum standards for such autopsies proposed by the Royal College of Pathologists. Interpretative comments were judged to be adequate in 51 (49%).
Conclusions: The quality of perinatal autopsies is frequently poor. Improvement requires increased awareness of the potential value of the autopsy, and more consultation between pathologists, obstetricians and paediatricians.