Methyl Salicylate Poisoning Due to Suicidal Ingestion: A Case Report and Literature Review / 대한법의학회지

Methyl salicylate is widely used in various topical products, including sports creams, ointments, patches, and oral hygiene products. These products are mainly used for localized treatment of musculoskeletal pain. Given their intended topical application, their ingestion can result in salicylic acid poisoning due to their high concentrations of methyl salicylate. Symptoms of salicylic acid poisoning may include dizziness, vomiting, hallucinations, seizures, and, in severe cases, unconsciousness, respiratory failure, and circulatory disorders. We report a case of a 71-year-old male who ingested Mensolatum Lotion to commit suicide and died.

The Significance of Detecting Diatoms in Spleen Tissue for the Postmortem Diagnosis of Drowning / 대한법의학회지

The aim of this study was to elucidate the diatomological investigation and the forensic role of spleen tissue in cases of drowning or non-drowning. Specimens of spleen tissue and other organ tissue from 136 drowning cases, as well as 21 cases where death resulted from causes other than drowning (acting as controls), were examined for the presence of diatoms. The diatom test was performed on all cases using the acid digestion method, involving fumed nitric acid on a hot sand bath. The presence of diatoms in spleen tissue was observed in drowning cases but not in non-drowning cases. Diatoms in spleen tissue showed a positive association with drowning (P=0.011). Among the 136 drowning cases, diatoms were most frequently found in lung tissue (n=134, 99%), followed by spleen (n=33, 24%), kidney (n=28, 21%), liver (n=27, 20%), and heart (n=22, 16%) tissues. Moreover, in 95 cases where putrefaction did not progress, diatoms were detected in spleen tissues in 14 cases, indicating that the highest detection rate among other enclosed organ tissues, excluding lung tissues. Furthermore, a significant correlation was observed between the presence of diatoms in spleen tissue and those in enclosed organs, including the liver, kidney, and heart, but not in lung tissues. Our results revealed a significant correlation between the presence of diatoms in spleen tissue and drowning. Thus, the present study provides evidence that the presence of diatoms in spleen tissue may be a reliable indicator of death by drowning.

Needles in the Lungs: An Autopsy Case of Pulmonary Ossification in a Putrefied Body / 대한법의학회지

Forensic autopsy is performed to investigate a death. However, this is difficult in some cases, particularly in putrefied bodies. Pulmonary ossification is a rare pathological process, characterized by progressive and metaplastic ossification, which leads to the formation of small bony fragments in the pulmonary tissue. This condition can develop within the pulmonary tissues that are injured due to various causes. Metastatic and dystrophic calcification occur in normal tissues in conditions of deranged calcium metabolism and dead or degenerative tissue, respectively. Here, we describe the case of a 54-year-old man who lived alone and whose putrefied body was discovered by his landlord. A forensic pathologist identified needle-like sharp materials in both the lower lobes of the lungs during autopsy. Microscopic examination revealed dendriform pulmonary ossification with calcification. After autopsy, his medical history, including chronic kidney disease, was recorded by forensic pathologist. A review of his past medical history and comprehensive postmortem examination findings of the gross dissection, microscopic examination, and postmortem laboratory tests led to the determination of the cause of death as renal problems.

A Comparative Study of Postmortem Bacterial Culture and Identification Methods / 대한법의학회지

Postmortem bacterial culture can be valuable for investigating deaths and determining the cause of death. However, there are many concerns regarding postmortem bacterial culture such as postmortem transmigration and agonal spread of bacteria. The two main methods for identification of the bacteria are biochemical and genetic methods. In Korea, the genetic method has been used for postmortem bacterial culture and identification in forensic medicine. However, there is a lack of consensus on the method to be used for postmortem bacterial culture and identification. Herein, we compared the genetic and biochemical methods of postmortem bacterial culture in autopsy practice. Both analyses were performed on the same samples. Bacteria were identified in 28 of the 34 cases (82.4%). Of the 74 comparable samples, only 28 (37.8%) showed consistent results by both methods. In addition, the biochemical method had a shorter reporting time and was more sensitive. In conclusion, we analyzed the causes of the inconsistency between the two methods and provided appropriate conditions and protocols for postmortem bacterial culture and identification.

Study of the Test for Postmortem C-Reactive Protein in Routine Autopsy Practice / 대한법의학회지

C-Reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase response protein synthesized in the liver as a response to various inflammation. CRP is extensively used as a general marker for inflammation in clinical medicine. A forensic applications of the CRP using postmortem samples have been studied in oversea. We have compared CRP in the between antemortem and postmortem samples and studied stability of postmortem blood samples for CRP test. In 69 consecutive autopsy cases, we have analysed heart blood samples (69 cases), peripheral blood samples (33 cases), and vitreous humor samples (60 cases). Postmortem CRP was elevated in 25 cases (36.2%) and possible causes of CRP elevation were inflammatory disease except one case (unknown). Postmortem CRP test shows sensitivity 86.7%, specificity 80%, positive predictive value 92.9%, and negative predictive value 66.7% for inflammation based on 20 cases with antemortem CRP results. The postmortem CRP levels were similar in the heart blood samples and peripheral blood samples. Vitreous humor samples are not useful in postmortem CRP testing. And both whole blood and serum samples are stable in room temperature until 31 days. We conclude that serum from heart blood is best suitable sample for postmortem CRP test and postmortem CRP test is useful in routine autopsy practice to detect inflammatory disease such as sepsis. From the view of postmortem point, we desire that this valuable test should be used in routine autopsy practice in Korea.

Ludwig's Angina: An Autopsy Case / 대한법의학회지

Ludwig's angina is a progressive gangrenous cellulitis and edema of the soft tissues of the neck and floor of the mouth. Ludwig's angina can be fatal as a result of progressive swelling of the soft tissues of the neck and elevation and posterior displacement of the tongue, resulting in airway obstruction. We report the case of a 77-yearold man who was admitted to the dental hospital with a toothache and headache. He was diagnosed with left submandibular space abscess. Four days post-admission, the submandibular and submental abscess was incised and drained. After the operation, the patient suddenly developed dyspnea and suffered cardiopulmonary arrest and died. An autopsy was performed, and exploration of the neck revealed a submental and submandibular abscess with massive inflammation, edema, and an abscess in multiple layers of the cervical subcutaneous tissue. After autopsy, the cause of death was confirmed as Ludwig's angina with a deep neck abscess. Ludwig's angina is a rapidly progressive cellulitis that often results in death by asphyxia or sepsis and is rarely seen in a forensic autopsy practice. Here in we report a case of Ludwig's angina and present a review of the literature.

Forensic Analysis of the Cause of Death and Death on Arrival of Patients at the Emergency Room / 대한법의학회지

From January 2007 to June 2012, 55 autopsy cases were reviewed, in which death occurred outside the hospital and the patients were declared dead on arrival at the emergency departments, in order to compare the clinical and postmortem examination diagnoses of death-on-arrival patients in tertiary hospitals in Busan, Yangsan and Ulsan city. Of 22 non-traumatic deaths, 21 occurred from natural causes and 1 from unknown cause (sudden infant death syndrome, SIDS). Clinical diagnoses were cardiovascular diseases or "non-traumatic" / "unknown" while autopsy diagnoses were majorly cardiovascular diseases, especially coronary artery diseases (72.7%). Of 33 unnatural deaths, the cause of death was blunt trauma in 4 patients, sharp-force injury in 6, falling in 10, gunshot injury in 1, traffic accidents in 3, asphyxia in 2, drowning in 2, fire-related death in 1, and intoxication in 4. There were no definite discrepancies between clinical and autopsy diagnoses, except for 5 non-traumatic deaths and 2 unnatural deaths. These results suggest that the role of the emergency department may be crucial in postmortem investigations.

Death by Homicidal Smothering Using Hot Steam Towel: A Case Report / 대한법의학회지

An unusual case of homicide of a 21-year-old man who was smothered with a hot steam towel by his mother and a pastoress in the name of exorcism. Homicidal smothering in adults is rare, but does occur when the victims are not capable of defending themselves in situations such as chronic illness, old age, drug intoxication or when restrained by other people. In this case, distinct facial scalding was a clue to smothering with a hot steam towel.