What does pathological discoloration indicate?

Pathological discoloration refers to color changes that occur in tissue due to disease processes that were present before death. This can manifest in various ways, such as bruising, jaundice, or other conditions that alter the natural color of the skin or underlying tissues. These color changes result from factors like blood pooling, increased bilirubin levels, or other disease-related mechanisms.

The choice that identifies pathological discoloration as antemortem discoloration due to disease accurately captures the essence of this term. It emphasizes that these changes occur prior to death as a result of an underlying health issue, differentiating it from other processes that might alter the body's appearance after death, such as those involved in natural decomposition or postmortem changes initiated by embalming methods.