Why could Rudolf Virchow’s detailed autopsy method reveal previously unnoticed lesions?

Rudolf Virchow’s detailed autopsy method was effective because it involved a standardized technique for examining the entire body in detail. By conducting such a comprehensive examination, he was able to identify and document lesions that had previously gone unnoticed.1

This approach was consistent with his broader scientific philosophy, which emphasized that disease processes should be understood at the cellular level. By moving beyond the study of organs or tissues in general, Virchow’s systematic methodology allowed for a more precise investigation into the structural and functional changes occurring within the body's individual cells.23