Partially inverted and degloved penile skin mimicking the appearance of female genitalia in cases of deaths caused by trains.

Abstract

Death by collision with an incoming train is common in countries where a railroad network exists. In such cases, when there is severe pelvic trauma, the penis may be partially degloved and turned inside out. The inverted penile skin may then resemble a vulva and the scrotum may mimic labia majora, causing the injured male genitalia to strongly resemble female genitalia. Forensic pathologists should be aware of this possibility when they are called to such a scene of death and are asked by the police to immediately determine the sex of the victim. In the challenging circumstances of a chaotic on-site railway death investigation, an inexperienced doctor might easily mistake male genitals for female genitals and thus delay correct identification of the victim by the police.