Trauma Analysis of Cranial Fractures and Estimation of Its Related Weapon for Reference to Forensic Anthropological Decisions / 체질인류학회지

The role of forensic anthropology is to reconstruct the process of individual death by predicting the cause and manner of death as well as to find out biological profiles of unknown skeletal remains based on the data of physical anthropology. The purpose of this study is to suggest the data of decision-making process for cranial fractures and its related weapons of skeletal remains from the forensic fields. A hammer (31.7%) and baseball bat (16.7%) represented almost half of the blunt type of weapon used in the cranial fracture. The linear fracture was caused by most of weapons, the spider's web and depressed fracture by the hammer, and the comminuted fracture by the heavy tools such as maul, wrench, etc as well as the hammer. By the chi-square test, there were significant differences between fracture patterns and types of weapon that it was helpful to estimate the weapon of cranial fracture for forensic anthropological decisions. Conclusively, we could prepare the priority order of estimating cause and manner of death in the case of cranial fracture for the forensic context and suggest research design of physical anthropology about osteological biomechanics and taphonomy relating cranial fractures.

Cortical Dysplasia of Brain: 2 Autopsy Cases / 대한법의학회지

Cortical dysplasia is used to designate any cerebral developmental malformation, and encompass a spectrum of pathologic changes from mild cortical disruption to more severe pattern of cortical dyslamination with large bizarre neurons, balloon cells, and astrocytosis. The gross appearance of the brian reveals focal or diffuse cortical thickening with no clear cortical-white matter junction due to excessive spillover of abnormal neurons. Cerebellar cortical dysplasias are uncommon but has been reported in cases with more widespread cerebral malformations. We present two autopsy cases of cortical dysplasia, one of which involves both cerebrum and cerebellum. Case 1 was a 4-year-old boy and presented with severe intractable epilepsy of neonatal onset , cerebral palsy, microcephaly, and severe neurologic deficits. Both cerebrum and cerebellum were markedly reduced in size. Microscopic examination of cerebrum showed disorganized cortical architecture with abnormal neurons in the cortex and white matter. The cerebellum disclosed massive spillover of Purkinje cells into white matter. Case 2 was a 51-year-old woman and found in dead in her house. No previous clinical history was informed. At autopsy, no gross abnormality of the brain was observed, but microscopic examination showed giant, dysmorphic neurons throughout the cerebral cortex.

A Forensic Pathologic Study of Diffuse Axonal Injury of Brain / 대한법의학회지

Axonal swellings or retraction balls are the major histologic hallmark of diffuse axonal injury in craniocerebral trauma. However, traditional histologic methods have proven of limited use in identifying reactive axonal change early in the posttraumatic course. In the present study, we try to compare conventional histologic and immunohistochemical methods, and transmission electron microscopy for demonstrating axonal swellings in 18 cases of head trauma. Brain regions such as corpus callosum, cerebral cortex, and brain stem were examined with immunohistochemical markers for beta-Amyloid precursor protein (beta-APP), neurofilament, ubiquitin, and CD68. The result was as follows: In 2 out of 18 cases, eosiniophilic spheroid axon balls were demonstrated with hematoxylineosin stain. Ultrastructurally, the axon balls exhibited misalignment, clumping or loss of neurofilaments, and accumulation of organelles. The organelles consisted of mitochondria, dense membranous bodies, and SER. The overlying thin myelin sheath was distended. In 6 cases with no axonal swellings at the histologic section, electron microscopic examination revealed axonopathy as evidenced by disintegration of neurofilaments and aggregated organelles. Immunostaining with an antibody to beta-APP disclosed varying positive reaction in axonal swellings and axon balls, suggestive for injured axons. However, the axons which did not appear obviously swollen at short survival times disclosed beta-APP negativity. Our findings suggest that transmission electron microscopy was very useful to identify the early axonal events in the posttraumatic course, while the immunostain was of limited value. The pathogenesis of axonal swellings in injured axons was discussed.

Cytologic Diagnosis of Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma in Pleural Fluid: A Case Report / 대한세포병리학회지

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma is the most common soft tissue sarcoma of late adult life, but it is rare in the pleura. We recently experienced a case of cytology of malignant fibrous histiocytoma in pleural fluid. The smear revealed histiocytic malignant cells, spindle malignant cells and inflammatory cells. The histiocytic cells showed abundant, pale cytoplasm and ovoid, irregular, eccentrically placed nuclei. The spindle cells showed elongated nuclei. Intercellular collagen was also present.