The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Sudden Death in Diabetic Ketoacidosis Complicated by Sickle Cell Trait
In a sudden death investigation of a service member with sickle cell trait (SCT), evidence of sickle cell crisis further complicated by coexisting, undiagnosed diabetic ketoacidosis called into question the synergistic effects of diabetic ketoacidosis on red blood cell sickling. Sickle cell trait affects more than 4 million people in the United States (US) with the highest prevalence in non-Hispanic Blacks (7%–9%; Mil Med 2017;182(3):e1819–e1824). The heterozygous state of sickled hemoglobin was previously considered a benign condition causing sickling during hypoxic, high-stress conditions such as exercise and high al...
Source: The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology - August 19, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Tags: Case Reports Source Type: research

Cervical Epidural Abscess: A Blind Spot for Postmortem Computed Tomography
We report a case of Staphylococcus aureus cervical epidural abscess presenting as neck pain and causing flaccid paralysis and subsequently death. Antemortem MRI showed a small epidural collection, spinal cord edema, and fluid in the adjacent cervical disc and facet joints; however, these findings could not be appreciated on postmortem CT. Postmortem examination, guided by the antemortem imaging, was able to confirm a cervical spinal epidural abscess; however, similar deaths may occur before medical presentation. This case demonstrates a limitation of postmortem imaging in diagnosing spinal epidural abscess and highlights t...
Source: The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology - August 19, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Tags: Case Reports Source Type: research

Forensic DNA Typing From Femurs and Bones of the Foot: A Study of 3 Cases
This study adds to current findings that advocate for further investigation into bone selection for use in forensic practice. The impacts of our findings are limited by the small number of individuals studied and may not apply to old and degraded bones. (Source: The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology)
Source: The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology - August 19, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Tags: Case Reports Source Type: research

Relapsing Polychondritis as a Cause of Sudden and Unexpected Death With Central Nervous System Involvement
Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare inflammatory disease process that affects cartilaginous tissues throughout the body. Although the pathogenesis remains unknown, RP is thought to be an autoimmune disorder in which host immune cells are conditioned to attack the body's cartilage, such as the ears, nose, eyes, joints, and airways, resulting in inflammation and destruction of otherwise healthy tissues. In rare and unusual cases, neurological involvement has been described. (Source: The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology)
Source: The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology - August 19, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Tags: Case Reports Source Type: research

Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy: A Report of Three Commonly Encountered Anatomic Findings in the Forensic Setting With Recommendations for Best Practices
Sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is the most common cause of death in children and young adults with epilepsy with epileptic patients harboring a 27 times increased risk of death from SUDEP. Structural brain lesions are encountered in up to 50% of autopsy cases. In this case series, we report 3 previously undiagnosed structural causes of SUDEP discovered at autopsy at our institution including schizencephaly, ganglioglioma, and focal cortical dysplasia. Our major recommendation is in cases with suspected SUDEP, formal neuropathological examination and tissue sampling should be employed to identify and character...
Source: The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology - August 19, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Tags: Case Reports Source Type: research

Methamphetamine Injection Into Face Causing Fatal Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis
We present a case of a cavernous sinus thrombosis associated with methamphetamine injection into the face. (Source: The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology)
Source: The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology - August 19, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Tags: Case Reports Source Type: research

A Fatal Colchicine Ingestion With Antemortem Blood Concentration
We present a case of acute colchicine overdose of 18 mg (approximately 0.25 mg/kg) with subsequent multiorgan failure and death with an antemortem blood colchicine concentration of 14 ng/mL at 18.5 hours after ingestion. (Source: The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology)
Source: The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology - August 19, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Tags: Case Reports Source Type: research

Autoerotic Death by Electrocution: An Atypical Case Study
We present the case of an atypical autoerotic death of a 23-year-old man found deceased in a bathroom. An electrical cord with a standard wall plug on one end and exposed wires twisted into loops on the other end was on the floor near his body. Minute black burns were present on each nipple. The outlet was protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter that was demonstrated to be in working order. An electrical consultant concluded that the cause of death could not be electrocution. Ground fault circuit interrupters work by detecting differences in current within a circuit. If a ground fault occurs, the circuit is broken ...
Source: The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology - August 19, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Tags: Case Reports Source Type: research

A Suggested Formula for Postmortem Estimation of Brain Edema Using Morphometric Parameters in Egyptian Population
Conclusions The study results will significantly facilitate the daily routine macroscopic assessment of brain edema based on scientifically determined principles. However, any estimation must still be used with caution and in combination with clinical information and macroscopic and histological findings. (Source: The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology)
Source: The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology - August 19, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Requests to Amend Cause and Manner of Death Determinations by Medical Examiners in Maryland, 2015–2021
A 1989 state law in Maryland allows family members to contest cause and manner of death determinations of medical examiners. A previous article described the experience with this law involving 12 appeals over a 3-year period (2012–2015). We now update the experience with the law involving 10 appeals that occurred over a subsequent period (2015 to September 2021) and a resultant change in the law. This unique appellate scheme has proven to be a valuable tool for medical examiners and families and has to date prevented resort to judicial courts. It is a model statutory scheme that is recommended for other jurisdictions to ...
Source: The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology - August 19, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Mortality in Cases of Acute Alcohol Intoxication in Children: A 10-Year Retrospective Study of the Moscow Region, Russia
Conclusion A systematic study of alcohol in forensic autopsy shows that the number of children who die with alcohol intoxication is high. Teenagers are the predominant age group experiencing alcohol intoxication. In our opinion, an alcohol blood test should be performed in all suspicious cases, especially in teenagers. (Source: The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology)
Source: The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology - August 19, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Complex (Multimodality) Suicides in New York City: 2008–2017
Complex (or multimodality) suicides pose a challenge for forensic pathologists, because they are infrequent and can be mistaken for the more frequent multiple-injury homicides. Complex suicides are suicides in which 2 or more self-inflicted injurious modalities are used. Among all suicides, this specific type has an incidence of 1.5% to 5%.1 Few publications exist that examined complex suicides, with the largest review discussing only 19 cases.2,3 To address the need for better characterization of complex suicides, a 10-year retrospective review was conducted of the database of the New York City Office of Chief Medical Exa...
Source: The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology - August 19, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

The Impact of Skin Color on the Recognition of Blunt Force Injuries
Dark skin may obscure injuries. This is reflected in the illustrations in textbooks, which generally depict blunt force injuries in victims with light skin tones. We explored whether forensic pathologists can reliably recognize blunt force injuries in dark-toned skin by comparing the average number of contusions and abrasions of motor vehicle accident victims with dark- and light-toned skin. We also investigated whether the race of the forensic pathologist observer mattered. We found a significant difference in the number of injuries recorded in autopsies of motor vehicle accident victims based upon skin tone; there was al...
Source: The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology - August 19, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

How Long Can a Dead Body Remain Infectious?: Postmortem Nasopharyngeal Swabs and SARS-CoV-2 Culture in a Corpse Over an 87-Day Period
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic involved several changes and difficulties in the work of forensic pathologists. Postmortem nasopharyngeal swabs for the diagnosis of the SARS-CoV-2 infection are recommended before an autopsy examination by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Source: The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology)
Source: The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology - August 19, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

A Guide to the Postmortem Investigation of Starvation in Adults
This article provides one of the first comprehensive guides to the postmortem investigation of starvation in adults, with reference tables on organ-specific macroscopic and microscopic features, as well as features for excluding alternative causes of wasting. The eclectic literature on this complex topic is summarized in an accessible and easily referenced format, including mechanisms of death and ancillary postmortem investigations. (Source: The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology)
Source: The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology - August 19, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Tags: Review Article Source Type: research