迟发性外伤性脑内血肿脑组织GFAP、S-100和NSE的免疫组织化学研究

应用免疫组织化学ABC法和S－P法，对6例伤后1．5天至2年发生的迟发性外伤性脑内血肿（DTICH）脑组织标本进行神经胶质细胞内胶质纤维酸性蛋白（GFAP）、S－100蛋白（S－100）和神经元细胞内特异性烯醇化酶（NSE）变化和应用价值的研究。尸检和组织学检查发现有脑挫伤等病变。6例DTICH脑组织挫伤及周围区均有明显的GFAP、S－100阳性的细胞变化，细胞数目增多，胞体肥大、增生，免疫组化反应产物增多、深染；神经元细胞NSE免疫组化染色均呈阴性改变。结果表明：6例DTICH脑组织中GFAP、S－100的NSE的免疫组织化学变化是有一定时间间隔的外伤性陈旧性改变，在DTICH的病理诊断上具有重要价值，可作为DTICH法医学鉴定的一个辅助手段。     

Fatal acute intracranial injury, subdural hematoma, and retinal hemorrhages caused by stairway fall

We describe an infant with an acute subdural hematoma, a fatal head injury, and severe hemorrhagic retinopathy caused by a stairway fall. His cerebral and ocular findings are considered diagnostic of abusive head trauma by many authors. Our literature search of serious injuries or fatalities from stairway or low-height falls involving young children yielded 19 articles of primary data. These articles are discrepant, making the classification of a young child's death following a reported short fall problematic. This case report contradicts the prevalent belief of many physicians dealing with suspected child abuse that low-height falls by young children are without exception benign occurrences and cannot cause fatal intracranial injuries and severe retinal hemorrhages. The irreparable harm to a caregiver facing an erroneous allegation of child abuse requires physicians to thoroughly investigate and correctly classify pediatric accidental head injuries.     

Fatal renal hemorrhage after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy

Renal hematoma is one of the most severe complications of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). ESWL is used in the noninvasive treatment of urinary calculosis. The shock waves can lead to capillary damage, renal parenchymal or subcapsular hemorrhage. We present a case with fatal complication and the result of the medico-legal evaluation. A 71-year-old woman was treated by ESWL, renal hematoma was detected during the clinical observation, and the patient died. The death occurred despite close clinical observation as a consequence of a rare complication of ESWL. The mechanism of death was hemorrhagic hypovolemic shock due to renal hemorrhage complications due to ESWL for treatment of renal calculi. This therapeutic complication is a known complication of appropriate treatment.     

Estimating the degree of ethanol intoxication from analysis of cerebro-cranial hematomas

314 cases of combined cerebro-cranial trauma and posttraumatic intracranial hematomas were identified of which ethanol was detected in 114 hematomas. The other investigative group was 103 hospitalized patients who had hematomas evacuated during neurosurgical procedures. In 62 of these cases ethanol was detected. Blood and urine samples were also collected and the alcohol concentration was determined in all specimens by GC and ADH. The ethanol elimination rate for autopsy and operative intracranial hematomas was approximately 0.07–0.08‰/h(±0.034‰/h). The elimination rate of ethanol from blood (β₆₀) was about two or three times greater as that from hematomas. Because of the different water content of intracranial hematomas from blood, it was necessary to adjust the ethanol concentration for water content. On the basis of the corrected ethanol concentrations and the elimination rates for both tissues it was possible to estimate the ethanol concentration at the time of injury. Intracranial hematomas are tissues of possible value in the determination of alcohol intoxication especially in alcoholism. Ethanol can be found in hematomas even after 72 h from head injury.     

迟发性外伤性脑内血肿脑组织病理形态学研究

运用组织病理学HE染色和Mallory染色,观察迟发性外伤性脑内血肿的病理学改变并探讨其发生机理。结果显示,迟发性外伤性脑内血肿伴有陈旧性脑挫伤、外伤性血管壁坏死及血管炎、挫伤灶或血管壁多发散在钙化,陈旧病灶有纤维包裹、胶质细胞增生和反应性肥大,但无创伤性脑脓肿形成。脑挫伤和外伤性脑内血管病变是脑出血的重要病理学基础,是迟发性外伤性脑内血肿的主要原因。     

An Uncommon Accident and Unusual Cause of Death—A Fatal Domestic Ram Attack

Domestic animal attacks are not common; their fatal attacks are even rarer. Herein, a case of a 78‐year‐old woman attacked by a ram is presented. She sustained multiple head and chest injuries. The autopsy findings and the inspection of the scene revealed that the fatal aortic injury had been caused by direct force from the front, which subsequently caused a powerful anteroposterior chest compression, resulting in an incomplete tear by flexion and compression of the aortic arch. The aortic dissection propagated in both an ante‐ and retrograde direction, with intact adventitia. However, due to a rise in pressure in the formed false lumen, dissection propagated downward to the base of the heart, and further into the subepicardial adipose tissue, forming a subepicardial hematoma. This hematoma gradually compressed the proximal sections of the coronary arteries, impairing their filling, and producing a myocardial ischemia. In addition, circulation had probably been already disturbed by the right‐sided pneumothorax, as well as a possible pneumomediastinum.     

Fatal Spontaneous Retropharyngeal Hematoma with Airway Obstruction in the Setting of Treatment with Dipyridamole

We report a fatal case of airway obstruction caused by spontaneous retropharyngeal hematoma (RH) in the setting of treatment with dipyridamole. A 90-year-old woman presented with cervical swelling, neck and chest ecchymoses, and complaints of dyspnea. She suffered cardiopulmonary arrest in the ambulance, and her death was confirmed after transportation to the hospital. The major finding of postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) prior to autopsy was widening of the prevertebral soft tissue. The results of the autopsy indicated that the cause of death was mechanical asphyxia, secondary to pharyngeal and laryngeal compression caused by the RH. There were no evident injuries, medical interventions, or particular diseases, suggesting the spontaneous cause of the RH. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a fatal case secondary to spontaneous RH that was revealed through PMCT imaging.     

Sudden Death by Spontaneous Epiglottic Hematoma Secondary to High Blood Levels of Warfarin

A 67‐year‐old man was found dead, at his home. On external examination, we found a voluminous purplish black ecchymosis of the anterior neck area. On internal examination, we found a voluminous epiglottis hematoma completely obstructing the upper airway. It was associated with other sites of intra‐abdominal hemorrhage. Toxicological studies revealed the presence of warfarin at a concentration of 8.4 mg/L in peripheral blood, which supposes an INR well above 4.5. To conclude, we supposed death was due to asphyxia secondary to a spontaneous epiglottic hematoma caused by a high blood concentration of warfarin. Hemorrhage in the epiglottis is very rare. To our knowledge, our patient is the only case of “sudden death” reported with spontaneous epiglottic hematoma due to high blood concentration of warfarin. In forensic practice, an anterior neck ecchymosis, without trauma, may suggest hemorrhage into soft airway tissues. Pathology findings make it possible to exclude exogenous trauma.     

Quantifying Macrophages and Hemosiderin in Pediatric Dura Mater,

Determining the age of a subdural hematoma at autopsy is of great interest for medicolegal purposes. The appearance of pigment‐laden macrophages is often referenced as evidence that the subdural hematoma is 3–4 days old. However, understanding the significance of macrophages and hemosiderin requires understanding the histology of infant dura. Samples of grossly unremarkable dura taken from 17 pediatric autopsies were identified and histologically confirmed to lack subdural neomembrane. CD68 immunostaining and Prussian blue staining was performed. The CD68‐positive cells per high‐power field were quantified, and the presence of iron‐containing cells was recorded. CD68‐positive cells were present in all cases, even in the dural border layer. Iron‐containing cells were identified in 59% of cases, and in the dural border layer in 29%. Therefore, CD68‐positive and iron‐containing cells can be present in pediatric dura without neomembrane or macroscopic subdural hemorrhage, and this requires consideration when estimating the age of a subdural hematoma.     

A death due to perirenal hematoma complicating extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy

Perirenal hematoma is an occasional complication of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) which does not usually require treatment. A 79-year-old woman died 23 h after ESWL. Forensic autopsy was performed to determine whether medical treatment contributed to her death. The cause of death was hemorrhagic shock due to massive hematoma from a ruptured small vein in the perirenal adipose capsule. No injury to other organs was found and the patient had neither coagulation abnormality nor venous disease. Perirenal hematoma can easily be diagnosed with abdominal sonography, if pain or symptoms of anemia develop. Doctors must be aware of the possibilities of severe renal hematomas after ESWL.