Background: In 2021, the Philippines recorded the highest mortality rate of persons deprived of liberty (PDL) in 32 years. A memorandum from the Department of Justice (DOJ) in November 2022 required the mandatory autopsy of unclaimed PDL bodies from the Beureu of Corrections. These bodies were sent to the University of the Philippines-Manila, Department of Pathology for autopsy. While deaths in custody are commonly due to natural communicable diseases, neoplasms— the second leading cause of death in the Philippines— have also been reported.
Objectives: This study aims to describe the prevalence and spectrum of neoplastic conditions in PDLs who underwent autopsy at the University of the Philippines-Manila, Department of Pathology.
Methods: We reviewed all autopsy reports of PDL cases from 2022 to 2023, completely enumerating the demographics, clinical causes of death, pathologic autopsy findings, and manners of death. The prevalence and spectrum of neoplasms is the focus of investigation.
Results: Sixty autopsy reports were reviewed, all involving males, most of whom were aged 41-50 years (28.33%). Deaths clinically were primarily due to natural communicable pulmonary conditions, with autopsy findings showing a higher prevalence of non-communicable diseases (66.14%). Neoplasms were present in 11 cases (18.33%), mostly malignant (84.62%), and included thyroid, lung, colon, liver, pancreas, esophagus, stomach, kidney, ureter, bladder, and para-testicle. Unifocal (7), multifocal (2), multiple primary (1), and metastatic malignancies (3) were identified. The majority of deaths were natural (95%).
Conclusion: The prevalence of neoplasms in PDLs is higher than in some international studies. The neoplastic conditions ranged from benign to malignant, with no clinical suspicion beforehand. An adequate and timely diagnosis of neoplasms in the prison setting is inferred for proper management, with similar standards as those available for the general population.

Prevalence and Spectrum of Neoplastic conditions