[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 42, Volume 1]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 42CFR37.203]

[Page 132]
 
                         TITLE 42--PUBLIC HEALTH
 
    CHAPTER I--PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN 
                                SERVICES
 
PART 37--SPECIFICATIONS FOR MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS OF UNDERGROUND COAL MINERS--Table of Contents
 
                           Subpart--Autopsies
 
Sec. 37.203  Autopsy specifications.

    (a) Every autopsy for which a claim for payment is submitted 
pursuant to this part:
    (1) Shall be performed consistent with standard autopsy procedures 
such as those, for example, set forth in the ``Autopsy Manual'' prepared 
by the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, July 1, 1960. (Technical 
Manual No. 8-300. NAVMED P-5065, Air Force Manual No. 160-19.) Copies of 
this document may be borrowed from ALFORD.
    (2) Shall include:
    (i) Gross and microscopic examination of the lungs, pulmonary 
pleura, and tracheobronchial lymph nodes;
    (ii) Weights of the heart and each lung (these and all other 
measurements required under this subparagraph shall be in the metric 
system);
    (iii) Circumference of each cardiac valve when opened;
    (iv) Thickness of right and left ventricles; these measurements 
shall be made perpendicular to the ventricular surface and shall not 
include trabeculations or pericardial fat. The right ventricle shall be 
measured at a point midway between the tricuspid valve and the apex, and 
the left ventricle shall be measured directly above the insertion of the 
anterior papillary muscle;
    (v) Size, number, consistency, location, description and other 
relevant details of all lesions of the lungs;
    (vi) Level of the diaphragm;
    (vii) From each type of suspected pneumoconiotic lesion, 
representative microscopic slides stained with hematoxylin eosin or 
other appropriate stain, and one formalin fixed, paraffin-impregnated 
block of tissue; a minimum of three stained slides and three blocks of 
tissue shall be submitted. When no such lesion is recognized, similar 
material shall be submitted from three separate areas of the lungs 
selected at random; a minimum of three stained slides and three formalin 
fixed, paraffin-impregnated blocks of tissue shall be submitted.
    (b) Needle biopsy techniques shall not be used.