In This Section
Human Brain and Spinal Fluid Resource Center
Sample Neurpathology Report
Report to:
Human Brain and Spinal Fluid Resource Center
Attn: Dr. W.W. Tourtellotte, Director
VA West Los Angeles Healthcare Center (127A)
11301 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90073

Identification: xxxxx, xxxxx HSB# -3367

Clinical Diagnosis: Alzheimer's Disease 75 years old female

Specimen: Brain weight: 1080 grams

Post mortem interval: 19.7 hours

Gross Description: High quality, high resolution colored digital images of the entire brain and 7 mm coronal sections at all levels in a frontal to occipital direction are examined. Four 7 mm sections of the brainstem and cerebellum are also examined. The spinal cord is submitted. There is no apparent softening, discoloration, hemorrhage, mass, or other lesion. There is moderate atrophy of the frontal and temporal lobes. The junction between the cortex and white matter is well demarcated. The lateral cerebral ventricles are mildly enlarged. The striatum, lentiform nucleus, hippocampus, and thalamus are normal. There is no atrophy of the cerebellar folia. Atherosclerosis is not present.

Microscopic Description: A section of hippocampus (10A) and adjacent temporal cortex (10B) is examined with the H&E stain and the Bielschowsky silver stain. The neocortex shows moderate to frequent numbers of neuritic plaques. There is mild to moderate neurofibrillary pathology in both the hippocampus and neocortex. There is mild cortical neuronal loss and extensive extracellular spongiosis. Intraneuronal inclusions (Lewy bodies, Pick bodies) are not found. The hippocampus shows granulovacuolar degeneration and scattered examples of Hirano body formation .

Comment: These findings indicate presence of Alzheimer disease and are consistent with the diagnosis of “definite” Alzheimer disease according to CERAD* criteria. The findings also support a Braak & Braak stage of 5.

Neuropathological diagnosis: 1. Alzheimer disease, definite.

Date Completed: 5-4-02, Roscoe Atkinson, M.D. Neuropathologist

* C onsortium to E stablish a R egistry for A lzheimer D isease