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The aim of this autopsy-based study was to determine the prevalence of chest wall deformities and pulmonary pathologies in the Turkish population. The study was set on a consecutive autopsy series (n=784), with no history of thoracic trauma, thoracic operation, or known pulmonary disease, performed between December 2001- March 2003 at the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institute of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Turkey. Chest wall deformities; pleural adhesions; bullous, nodular, and cavitary lesions; masses and abscess formations in the lungs were evaluated. There were 21 pectus excavatum (2.7%), 4 pectus carinatum (0.5%), and 5 vertebral column deformities (0.7%). Pleural adhesions were detected in 254 cases (32%), being minimal in 172 (22%) and massive in 82 (10%). The prevalence of bullous lesions was 14.3% (n=112). The pathological examination results of the 12 palpated masses (1.53%) revealed lung cancer in 6 (0.74%), tuberculomain 5 (0.63%), and metastatic lung tumor in 1 (0.12%). Of 64 nodules (8.1%), there were 40 enlarged intraparenchymal lymph nodes (5.1%), 7 tuberculomas (0.89%), 5 hamartomas (0.63%), 2 sarcoid nodules (0.25%), 1 amyloid nodule (0.12%) and 1 lipoma (0.12%). Of 17 cavitary lesions (2.2%), there were 8 pneumonic abscesses (1.02%), 7 tuberculous cavities (0.9%), and 2 cystic bronchiectasis (0.28%). In the Turkish population, the prevalence of congenital chest wall deformities, enlarged intraparenchymal lymph nodes, and undiagnosed pulmonary infection ratios are comparatively high. Thoracic surgeons may face pleural adhesions in one out of three people who have had no history of pulmonary diseases.