Gross, Histopathological, and Ultrastructural Features in Patients with COVID-19: A Literature Review

Abstract

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak has led to swift efforts to learn about its clinical course, prognostic markers, and complications. Consequently, there is a lot of scattered information available regarding severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) but its pathophysiology is still poorly understood. Gross and microscopic findings are very important for understanding any disease, including COVID-19. This literature review examines and summarises the biopsy, gross autopsy, and other histopathological findings that have been reported in various organs in COVID-19 patients to increase the understanding of the disease. Many histopathological findings in various organs were nonspecific, especially in the liver and brain, while others were particular to SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, further histopathological studies and autopsies are necessary to obtain consistent and reliable findings in those with COVID-19 to fully understand the pathogenesis of the disease and the impact it has on individual organs.