Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology最新文献

{"title":"An autopsy case of diphenhydramine overdose with drug concentration data from multiple samples sites.","authors":"Sella Takei, Mostofa Jamal, Tadayoshi Yamashita, Etsuko Tanaka, Sachiko Kawahara, Hiroko Abe, Takehiko Murase, Hiroshi Kinoshita","doi":"10.1007/s12024-026-01369-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-026-01369-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Diphenhydramine (DPH) is a commonly used over-the-counter drug. However, its widespread availability may contribute to severe and potentially fatal overdoses. DPH concentrations measured at multiple sampling sites have rarely been reported in fatal overdoses. This case report describes a fatal DPH overdose in a young woman whose blood DPH concentrations at multiple sampling sites exceeded the lethal range. DPH concentrations in blood and stomach contents enabled estimation of the amount of drug ingested, which was consistent with the investigative findings. Furthermore, the high DPH concentration in portal venous blood suggested that death occurred during the drug absorption phase. In fatal drug intoxication, measurement of drug concentrations at multiple sampling sites can provide complementary information for evaluating drug pharmacokinetics and the circumstances surrounding death.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149106587","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unscented and scented LDPE trash bags do not alter blow fly attraction to vertebrate remains.","authors":"Edward B Mondor, Lindsey H Merritt, Bailey R Stevens","doi":"10.1007/s12024-026-01368-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-026-01368-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Medicolegal forensic entomology allows investigators to estimate the minimum postmortem interval (mPMI) through the predictable attraction of blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) to decomposing remains. Because homicide victims are frequently concealed within plastic bags, the behavioral responses of flies to these physical barriers requires formal investigation. Furthermore, the rising prevalence of scented trash bags introduces an unstudied olfactory variable to carrion colonization. To assess these potential physical and olfactory barriers, raw chicken legs were either left unbagged (control) or completely enclosed within white plastic bags (unscented or lavender-scented low-density polyethylene (LDPE)) and put inside plastic bottle traps to monitor fly attraction over a one-week period. Here we show that Lucilia coeruleiviridis was the overwhelmingly dominant species captured, followed in decreasing abundance by Phormia regina, Sarcophaga spp., Musca spp., and Cochliomyia macellaria. Bagging treatment had no significant effect on trap captures, and the absence of a species-by-treatment interaction indicates similar behavioral responses across all observed taxa. Consequently, thin LDPE scented trash bags do not disrupt blow fly attraction to remains, providing reassurance to medicolegal investigators that these commercial products are unlikely to bias mPMI estimates.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149106612","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An autopsy case series on adventitial hemorrhages at the junction of aorta and posterior intercostal arteries - a potential mechanism of appearance.","authors":"Aleksa Leković, Slobodan Nikolić","doi":"10.1007/s12024-026-01366-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-026-01366-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Recently, a novel autopsy finding in deaths by hanging was reported - adventitial hemorrhages of the descending aorta at the junction with the posterior intercostal arteries. The suggested mechanism of appearance is the axial traction of the body on neck compression but also agonal convulsion-related repetitive spine hyperextension, leading to stretching and tearing of the adventitial blood vessels. So, they should appear in other deaths that share these agonal elements with hangings, such as epilepsy-related deaths, drownings, fatal electrocution or hypothermia. We report eight isolated, non-consecutive autopsy cases comprising epilepsy-related death (n = 1), electrocution (n = 1), drowning (n = 2), hypothermia (n = 1), and hanging (n = 2), where death involved exactly either agonal tonic-clonic seizures or other mechanical traction of the intercostal arteries, and severe thoracoabdominal trauma (n = 1), with mechanical latero-lateral traction of the intercostal arteries. In all eight cases, fresh adventitial hemorrhages were macroscopically visible as dark-red round to oval foci at the artery junctions and were confirmed by light microscopy. Histology revealed that, in addition to confluent adventitial hemorrhages, the microscopic subadventitial tear with fresh hemorrhage could be observed in some. The congested adventitial vasa vasorum in the proximity of these hemorrhages were observed on the histology samples, as well. This case series contributes to our understanding of adventitial hemorrhages at the junction of descending aorta with the posterior intercostal arteries, and provides insight into their morphology, with implications on the interpretation limitations but also hints to potential mechanism of their appearance, provided these prove to be intravital.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149073858","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gas, Gaps, and Grayscale: A pattern-based postmortem computed tomography approach in recognizing heat hematoma in charred bodies.","authors":"Shakti Bansal, Kishanth S, Kenchok Ongmu Bhutia, Soibam Neha, Raviprakash Meshram, Binaya Kumar Bastia, Ashish Ramesh Bhute","doi":"10.1007/s12024-026-01365-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-026-01365-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Thermal injury produces significant postmortem alterations that may mimic traumatic intracranial haemorrhage, posing a diagnostic challenge during medicolegal investigation. This study aimed to describe a pattern-based approach for recognising heat hematoma on postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) in fatal fire exposure cases by highlighting characteristic imaging features that may assist forensic interpretation. Two cases of fatal fire exposure underwent non-contrast PMCT before conventional medicolegal autopsy. PMCT findings were systematically evaluated for morphology, attenuation, distribution, and associated intracranial features of epidural collections, including intralesional gas, intradiploic gas, dural separation, brain volume changes, and mass effect. PMCT showed diffuse extra-axial collections along the cerebral convexities with an irregular, predominantly crescentic morphology and heterogeneous low attenuation (approximately 30-62 HU), reflecting multiple scattered intralesional air locules and thermally altered blood. The collections were associated with separation of dura mater from the inner table, resulting in widening of the epidural space. Generalised brain volume reduction consistent with thermal shrinkage and dehydration was observed without significant mass effect or features of true pressure-related herniation. Additional findings included intracranial and intradiploic gas producing a mottled calvarial appearance, focal split diploë sign, and soft-tissue gas within the scalp and facial regions. A pattern-based approach to PMCT interpretation is suggested, in which the combined presence of a heterogeneous low attenuation crescentic epidural collection, intralesional and intradiploic gas, dural separation, split diploë sign, and minimal mass effect supports recognition of heat hematoma in charred bodies. These imaging findings may assist medicolegal interpretation when considered in conjunction with the overall postmortem examination.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149059740","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Right coronary artery ectasia with a focal aneurysm in a decomposed body: Non-contrast postmortem CT and autopsy correlation.","authors":"Akihito Usui, Sohtaro Mimasaka, Masato Funayama, Tomohiro Kaneta","doi":"10.1007/s12024-026-01362-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-026-01362-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Herein, we present a case involving a markedly decomposed body in which non-contrast postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) demonstrated long-segment right coronary artery ectasia with focal aneurysmal dilatation. A man estimated to be in his 30s was found dead 12 days after he had last been confirmed alive. PMCT showed extensive decomposition-related gas and identified a conspicuously dilated segment along the anatomical course of the right coronary artery. Curved planar reformations showed that the dilated segment measured approximately 106 mm in length. Autopsy confirmed focal aneurysmal dilatation of the right coronary artery and cardiomegaly. Dark red intraluminal material was present in one cross-section, but advanced decomposition and autolysis precluded confirmation of antemortem thrombosis or acute myocardial infarction. This case illustrates the value and limitations of non-contrast PMCT for documenting coronary morphology in markedly decomposed bodies.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149059710","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hydatid cyst-related deaths: a structured autopsy-based forensic analysis of pathological phenotypes and fatality mechanisms.","authors":"Mehmet Doğan, Mehmet Ali Dağ, Furkan Kılıç, Yusuf Atan, Adem Karbuz, İbrahim Üzün","doi":"10.1007/s12024-026-01364-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-026-01364-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hydatid cyst-related mortality is rare and diagnostically challenging in forensic practice, particularly when cystic echinococcosis remains clinically unrecognized until death. This study aimed to characterize hydatid cyst-related deaths through integrated assessment of clinical course, macroscopic morphology, histopathology, and mechanism of death. We retrospectively reviewed 32 hydatid cyst-related deaths evaluated by the First Specialized Board of the Council of Forensic Medicine of Türkiye between 2013 and 2024. Demographic and clinical characteristics, organ involvement, macroscopic cyst features, histopathological findings, and certified mechanisms of death were assessed. Macroscopic and histopathological findings were categorized using predefined morphological classifications, and clinicopathological associations were analyzed. The median age was 27.5 years, and 71.9% were male. Hepatic involvement was present in 93.8%, while hydatid disease had not been diagnosed before the fatal event in 84.4%. Anaphylactic shock was the predominant fatal mechanism (59.4%), followed by sepsis/multiorgan failure (21.9%), hydatid-related sudden death without further mechanistic specification (9.4%), pulmonary hydatid embolism (6.3%), and direct cardiac hydatid-related sudden death (3.1%). Intact or tense cysts predominated among macroscopically evaluable cases (73.3%), whereas complete rupture was identified in 16.7%. The secondary infected histopathological phenotype was associated with sepsis-related death (OR 18.0; 95% CI 1.54-210.6; p = 0.025). Hydatid cyst-related deaths occur through distinct clinicopathological pathways, with anaphylactic shock predominating. Complete macroscopic rupture is not required for fatal hypersensitivity reactions. Integrating gross morphology, histopathology, systemic autopsy findings, and clinical context may improve postmortem mechanistic interpretation.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149030271","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterisation of microbial succession for the estimation of PMI and PMSI in terrestrial and aquatic environments.","authors":"Chitra Jangid, Kiran Kumari, Rajiv Joshi, Mohd Hamza, Jyoti Dalal","doi":"10.1007/s12024-026-01357-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-026-01357-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Decomposition is a continuous yet environmentally friendly process, and accurate estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI) and postmortem submersion interval (PMSI) remains a major challenge in forensic investigations. Recent developments in sequencing technologies have demonstrated great potential in the use of microbial communities in determining the time since death. Here, we investigated microbial community succession in human remains via 16 S rRNA gene sequencing and estimated the potential use of bacterial succession for estimating the PMI and PMSI. Distinct temporal shifts in microbial community composition were observed during aquatic and terrestrial decomposition, indicating predictable succession patterns associated with decomposition progression. Regression modeling under leave-one-out cross-validation demonstrated encouraging predictive performance, with the aquatic PMSI model based on ridge regression achieving an R² of 0.861 (MAE = 2.45 days), whereas the terrestrial PMI model using random forest regression achieved an R² of 0.768 (MAE = 2.60 days). Integration of microbial succession data with standardized decomposition scoring systems. These findings provide preliminary proof-of-concept evidence that microbial succession patterns can support PMI and PMSI estimation in forensic investigations. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first forensic microbiome investigation of human terrestrial and aquatic decomposition for PMI and PMSI estimation in India.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149024371","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Post-mortem rodent scavenging mimicking canine bite injuries on human corpse in Italy.","authors":"Teresa Bonacci, Erica Di Biase, Marco Pezzi, Vannio Vercillo","doi":"10.1007/s12024-026-01360-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-026-01360-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Post-mortem vertebrate scavenging may produce tissue alterations that mimic ante-mortem trauma, representing a potential source of error in forensic interpretation. We report a case of extensive soft tissue loss in the face and the anterior part of the neck of a human corpse, initially attributed to a canine attack. A multidisciplinary approach, including scene investigation, autopsy, and entomological and histological analyses, was applied to determine the origin of the lesions and reconstruct the scene. First-instar larvae of Calliphora vicina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) were collected and used to estimate the minimum post-mortem interval using a thermal summation model, indicating early colonization. Macroscopic examination revealed finely serrated wound margins, parallel superficial striations, and localized tissue removal without punctures, avulsion, or crushing injuries. Histological analysis showed superficial ulceration, dermal homogenization, fragmentation of elastic fibers, and absence of vital reactions, supporting a post-mortem origin of the lesions. The combined evidence excluded canine involvement and identified rodent scavenging as the cause of tissue loss. This case highlights the diagnostic value of entomological, macroscopic and histological data in the correct estimation of time since death (minimum post-mortem interval) and interpretation of post-mortem artifacts.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149016251","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Diagnostic value of external and internal neck findings in fatal strangulation: a scoping review of the forensic pathology literature.","authors":"Mofareh Shubban Alraythi, Maram Abdulghani Alfarayedhi","doi":"10.1007/s12024-026-01363-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-026-01363-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This scoping review maps the forensic-pathology literature on the diagnostic value of external and internal neck findings in fatal manual and ligature strangulation, and on findings used to differentiate strangulation from hanging and homicidal from suicidal manner of death. A scoping review was conducted in accordance with Joanna Briggs Institute methodology [1] and reported following PRISMA-ScR [2]. PubMed/MEDLINE and Europe PMC were searched in April 2026; title/abstract and full-text screening were performed by a single reviewer with supervisor consultation. Findings were reported using three pre-specified inference categories: confirmed, contested, and hypothesis-generating. Sixteen studies reporting on approximately 1,500 cases across eight world regions met eligibility criteria. Manual strangulation produced a higher laryngohyoid fracture burden than ligature strangulation across nationwide series. Two findings from the Berlin institute cohort of Maxeiner and Bockholdt - laryngeal muscle hemorrhage and fractures of more than one thyroid superior horn - reached 0% prevalence in suicidal ligature strangulation, providing a high-specificity indicator panel for homicidal manner that remains single-cohort and awaiting replication. Apparent variation in petechiae prevalence across studies was attributable to ascertainment methodology rather than biological difference. The two included Chinese provincial series reported hyoid fractures more frequently than thyroid cartilage fractures, at ratios of approximately 3:1 and 4:1, which reverses the thyroid-predominant pattern of the Western and Nordic series. This two-paper, single-country observation is reported as hypothesis-generating rather than as an established regional difference. The classic claim of intracartilaginous laryngeal hemorrhage as a strangulation-specific marker emerged as contested and unsupported by contemporary controlled evidence. The synthesis supports a high-specificity indicator panel for homicidal manner in ligature strangulation and clarifies the petechiae prevalence variation as an ascertainment artifact. It identifies three research priorities. The first is replication of the two markers reaching 0% prevalence in suicidal ligature strangulation reported by Maxeiner and Bockholdt, outside the Berlin institute cohort in which they were established and against the findings set out in Table 4. The second is post-mortem CT testing of the regional anomaly, and the third is contemporary testing of the cervical lymph node hemorrhage observation.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149007933","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Violent death and Post-traumatic pulmonary embolism during hospital admission.","authors":"Sara Giesteira, Deniz Passos, Dina Almeida","doi":"10.1007/s12024-026-01361-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-026-01361-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fatal pulmonary embolism (PE) is a multifactorial entity that is often associated with trauma and has an unpredictable course associated with high in-hospital mortality. This study aimed to understand if there was a relationship between the hospitalization conditions of trauma patients, their clinical and demographic characteristics, and the correlation between the occurrence of fatal pulmonary thromboembolism and the time interval between this event and the initial traumatic incident in this context. This is a retrospective and observational study of 22 trauma patients whose death was verified in-hospital between 2018 and 2020. Descriptive analysis and non-parametric association tests were performed. Of the 22 patients included, the cause of death in 8 patients (36.4%) was an early PE and in the remaining (63.6%) a late PE. The hospitalization had a median of 6 days (IQR = 26). In the statistical analysis, there were statistically relevant differences in the groups according to time of PE regarding the gender (p = .026) and period of immobilization (p = .002). These comparisons did not reach statistical significance, but moderate-to-large exploratory effect sizes were observed for the type of trauma (p = .076, Φ_c = 0.63), the injured anatomical area (p = .355; Φ_c = 0.58), the surgical procedures (p = .661, Φ_c = 0.52) and the location of the emboli in the pulmonary tree (p = .270, Φ_c = 0.56), according to time of PE; given the small sample size, these findings should be regarded as hypothesis-generating and require confirmation in larger cohorts. Post-traumatic PE is a high mortality entity, and these data may contribute to the medico-legal assessment of the temporal relationship between trauma and PE; optimizing the thromboembolus histological dating system remains essential to move from temporal compatibility towards a more robust assessment of causality.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149001358","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}