Forensic value of soft tissue detachments from the hyoid bone in death due to strangulation asphyxia.

BACKGROUND: There are no unequivocal histopathological findings for the diagnosis of fatal asphyxia due to neck compression. From the observation of a series of asphyxiation cases, we noted, during microscopic analysis, a high frequency of "detachment" of soft tissues from the hyoid bone. This specifically refers to the presence of an optical space between the surface of the hyoid bone and soft tissues. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the detachment of soft tissues from the hyoid bone as specific histological evidence of death due to strangulation asphyxia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ten blocks were taken from deaths due to external mechanical compression of the neck (strangulation asphyxia, group A), 22 blocks were taken from deaths for other causes without trauma to the neck (group B), and 38 blocks were obtained from living subjects that have undergone laryngectomies (group C). The presence/absence of detachments were compared between the 3 groups (A, B and C) using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: The detachment of soft tissues from the hyoid bone was observed in 5 cases (50%) in group A, 6 cases (27.2%) in group B, and 17 cases (44.3%) in group C. The sensitivity and specificity of the presence of the detachment in group A were 0.5 (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.38-0.62) and 0.57 (95% CI: 0.45-0.69), respectively. The comparison between the 3 groups and the presence/absence of soft tissue detachment showed no statistically significant differences between the groups (p = 0.329), clarifying that soft tissue detachment is a nonspecific variable for all 3 situations. CONCLUSIONS: Detachment of soft tissues has poor value as a single element to favor the diagnosis of asphyxia due to violent compression of the neck and should be interpreted as an artifactual finding, unrelated to the neck injury or injury vitality.

Carbon monoxide related deaths: A Verona case series. When cooperation becomes compulsory.

INTRODUCTION: Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is a significant concern in forensic medicine, as it often presents unique challenges in terms of diagnosis, investigation, and determination of the cause of death. CO is a colourless, odourless, and tasteless gas that can be lethal when inhaled in high concentrations. It binds strongly to haemoglobin, forming carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb), which reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, leading to tissue hypoxia and ultimately death. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Circumstantial data, medical history information, autopsy findings, and toxicological analysis results related to 24 CO poisoning cases at the Institute of Legal Medicine in Verona were collected and analysed. The data were examined in an integrated manner to identify correlations and common patterns. A comparison was also made with the data available in the literature. RESULTS: The male gender was confirmed to be the most frequently involved. COHb levels were found to be less than 50% in 6 cases. Three individuals had concurrent cardiovascular pathologies, while 11 subjects tested positive for various substances, including alcohol, benzodiazepines, and morphine. In most cases, the manner of fatal intoxication was accidental, although 6 suicides and 1 homicide are reported. CONCLUSIONS: The Verona case series demonstrates that deaths due to CO poisoning require a multidisciplinary approach. The integration of diverse expertise is essential for assessing the manner of death. This approach enables a comprehensive evaluation of the available data, aids in distinguishing between accidental, suicidal, and homicidal deaths, and ensures accurate and reliable forensic conclusions.

Unusual Lichtenberg figures in a lightning strike's victim: Case report and literature review.

Lichtenberg figures are pathognomonic markings commonly described as transient pink-red fractal pattern marks on the skin of people struck by a lightning. Their nature and the underlying physiopathology are still largely unknown. Here we describe a Lichtenberg figure in a 45-year-old woman who died due to a lightning strike during a thunderstorm. On autopsy, five days after the fatal event, she presented atypical green Lichtenberg figures on the skin of her abdomen. This appearance has not previously been described in the scientific literature, so a review of literature was done to support our observation.

A hard way to die: when multiple lethal gunshots mean suicide.

Multiple suicidal gunshot wounds are rare and often present a challenging issue for forensic pathologists in determining the manner of death.We describe three cases of suicidal multiple gunshot wounds in which crime scene investigation, cadaveric examination, and autopsy were provided. In all cases, integration of circumstantial data and crime scene investigation suggested a suicidal event.Firstly, we describe the self-infliction of two gunshots to the chest and head in a 90-year-old man by a revolver with wounds to the left lung and lethal wound to both frontal and temporal lobes. The second case concerns a 97-year-old man found dead with two gunshot wounds to the chest by a semi-automatic weapon and bullets penetrated to the left lung and heart. The last case, exceptional in literature, is a 41-year-old man with three self-inflicted gunshots, all-penetrating the left lung and the heart, using a revolver. This paper illustrates that immediate incapacitation can lack even in case of multiple fatal gunshot wounds on instantaneously lethal targets. Therefore, a complete investigation is required for a correct interpretation of the manner of death.An extensive review of literature is also provided.

Sudden death in a 39-year-old woman due to three-vessel coronary artery disease: A case report and literature review.

Coronary atherosclerosis may be underestimated in previously asymptomatic and apparently healthy young people, although it has been reported in various epidemiological studies. Between 7% and 21% of sudden cardiac deaths in previously asymptomatic people aged <45 years are due to three-vessel coronary artery disease. So, clinical services need to vigilant for this condition. We report a single case of sudden death in a young woman who was affected by three-vessel coronary artery disease. This 39-year-old woman attended an emergency department for non-specific chest pain. After a brief observation period, in the absence of signs of an acute myocardial event, she self-discharged. However, she died suddenly the next day. The subsequent autopsy did not show significant pathological findings, although macroscopic examination of the heart revealed critical three-vessel coronary artery disease. Standard histological examination confirmed an atheromatous plaque obstructing >75% of the lumen of the anterior descending artery, complicated by haemorrhagic phenomena, with diffuse calcified and sub-totally occluded atherosclerotic plaques in the other vascular sections, without ischaemic signs of the cardiomyocytes or fibrosis. When young people present with chest pain, they must be carefully evaluated. Risks need to be clearly explained, particularly when self-discharge is requested.

Consultation between forensic and clinical pathologists for histopathology examination after forensic autopsy.

The magnitude of the diagnostic benefit conferred by performing histopathological examinations after medico-legal/forensic autopsies remains debatable. We have tried to address this issue by reviewing a series of histopathology referrals concerning medico-legal autopsies in real-world routine practice. We present an audit of the consultations provided to forensics by clinical pathologists at our institute between 2015 and 2018. Over this period, 493 post-mortem examinations were performed by forensic pathologists. Of these cases, 52 (11%) were referred for histopathology. Gross assessment was requested in 22/52 (42%) cases. Histopathology examination was performed on single organs in 15/52 (29%) cases, primarily on the lung and heart, whereas parenchymatous multi-organ analysis was carried out in 14/52 (27%) cases. Bone-marrow sampling was studied in 4/52 (8%) cases. Immunohistochemistry was needed in 16/52 (31%) cases, special stains in 9/52 (21%) cases and molecular analysis in 4/52 (8%) cases. Focusing on technical processes, standard methodology on pre-analytical procedures was changed in 10/52 (19%) cases in order to answer specific diagnostic questions. We showed that although most of the time the diagnosis is clear by the end of dissection on the basis of the macroscopic findings, histopathology can provide, modify or confirm the cause of death in many medico-legal/forensic cases. Therefore, it is desirable that forensic pathologists and clinical pathologists establish robust working relationships in a cooperative environment. We conclude that it is important to implement guidelines based on real-world routine practice in order to identify cases where histopathology can provide useful contributions, which in our experience applied to 11% of forensic cases.

Pulmonary Fat Embolism and Coronary Amyloidosis.

BACKGROUND Fat embolism syndrome is a well-known complication in orthopedic and trauma surgery, caused by a massive release of fat into the circulation that can lead to cardiopulmonary insufficiency and multiorgan failure. CASE REPORT We present the case of a 72-year-old man with osteoarthritis who underwent an elective right cementless total hip arthroplasty. Two hours after surgery, the patient lost consciousness and was found hypotensive and with reduced oxygen saturation, with a severe right heart dilatation at echocardiographic evaluation. Death occurred after cardiopulmonary resuscitation attempts. Post-mortem microscopic examination revealed that the final cause of death was pulmonary fat embolism associated with coronary amyloidosis and atherosclerosis. CONCLUSIONS This case called our attention on the sudden onset of fat embolism syndrome after arthroplasty and the insidious nature of amyloidosis infiltrative disease. The autopsy findings substantially aided understanding the immediate cause of death.

A case of sudden cardiac death following Domperidone self-medication.

The phenomenon of sudden cardiac death is usually related to the worsening of existing heart conditions leading to ventricular arrhythmia (VA). One of the well-known triggers of SCD is drug-induced prolongation of the QT interval, such as that caused by Domperidone (D). Despite its risk to prolong the QT interval and associated narrow therapeutic index, D is available as an over-the-counter (OTC) drug in many countries such as Italy, Ireland, Netherlands, China, South Africa, Mexico, New Zealand and Chile to treat gastroesophageal reflux and functional dyspepsia. The present paper reports a case of SCD that occurred some hours after D self-administration in a 47-year-old female subject with mitral valve prolapse, thus, predisposed to both VA and SCD. Despite the risks related to D administration, to the best of our knowledge, this particular issue has not been discussed in the medico-legal literature. For this reason, the forensic implications of D administration are discussed focusing on issues related to the self-administration as an OTC drug (as seen in this case), administration to incapacitated subjects, prescription to patients with contraindications and the off-label drug use of D at high and hazardous concentrations to stimulate lactation.