Forensic Pathology Reviews Volume 2 (Forensic Pathology Reviews)

330 Pages·2004·18.87 MB·English

by  Michael Tsokos

Forensic
Pathology
Reviews
Volume 2
Edited by
Michael Tsokos,
MD
Forensic Pathology Reviews
F P R
ORENSIC ATHOLOGY EVIEWS
Michael Tsokos, MD, SERIES EDITOR
FORENSIC PATHOLOGY REVIEWS, VOLUME 3, edited by Michael Tsokos, 2005
FORENSIC PATHOLOGY REVIEWS, VOLUME 2, edited by Michael Tsokos, 2005
FORENSIC PATHOLOGY REVIEWS, VOLUME 1, edited by Michael Tsokos, 2004
F
ORENSIC
P
ATHOLOGY
R
EVIEWS
Volume 2
Edited by
Michael Tsokos,
MD
Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Hamburg,
Hamburg, Germany
© 2005 Humana Press Inc.
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Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials.
Production Editor: Robin B. Weisberg
Cover design by Patricia F. Cleary
Cover illustrations from Fig. 1, Chapter 10, “Arthropods and Corpses,” by Mark Benecke; Fig. 7, Chapter 2,
“Infant and Early Childhood Asphyxial Deaths: Diagnostic Issues,” by Roger W. Byard and Michael Tsokos;
Fig. 9, Chapter 8, “Sudden, Unexpected Death Related to Viral Myocarditis: A Survey of Histological,
Immunohistochemical, and Molecularpathological Methods for the Postmortem Diagnosis,” by Reinhard
Dettmeyer and Burkhard Madea; Fig. 1, Chapter 2, “Skull Injuries Caused by Blows With Glass Bottles,”
by Burkhard Madea, Peter H. Schmidt, Eberhard Lignitz, and Stephan A. Padosch; and Fig. 3, Chapter 3,
“Primary Cerebral Neoplasms as a Cause of Sudden, Unexpected Death,” by Jakob Matschke.
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Printed in the United States of America. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
eISBN 1-59259-872-2
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Forensic pathology reviews, Volume 2 / edited by Michael Tsokos.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-58829-415-3 (alk. paper)
1. Forensic pathology. I. Tsokos, Michael.
RA1063.4.F675 2004
614.1—dc22
2003027503
Dedication
To my son Titus for the joy and fun he brings to my life day by day.
—Michael Tsokos, MD
v

Series Introduction
Over the last decade, the field of forensic science has expanded enormously.
The critical subfield of forensic pathology is essentially based on a transverse,
multiorgan approach that includes autopsy, histology (comprising neuro-
pathological examination), immunohistochemistry, bacteriology, DNA
techniques, and toxicology to resolve obscure fatalities. The expansion of the
field has not only contributed to the understanding and interpretation of many
pathological findings, the recognition of injury causality, and the availability of
new techniques in both autopsy room and laboratories, but also has produced
specific new markers for many pathological conditions within the wide variety
of traumatic and nontraumatic deaths with which the forensic pathologist deals.
The Forensic Pathology Reviews series reflects this expansion and provides
up-to-date knowledge on special topics in the field, focusing closely on the
dynamic and rapidly growing evolution of medical science and law. Individual
chapters take a problem-oriented approach to a central issue of forensic pathology.
A comprehensive review of the international literature that is otherwise difficult
to assimilate is given in each chapter. Insights into new diagnostic techniques
and their application, at a high level of evidential proof, will surely provide helpful
guidance and stimulus to all those involved with death investigation.
It is hoped that this series will succeed in serving as a practical guide to
daily forensic pathological and medicolegal routine, as well as provide
encouragement and inspiration for future research projects. I wish to express my
gratitude to Humana Press for the realization of Forensic Pathology Reviews.
Michael Tsokos, MD
vii

Preface
When asked by the Prussian king, “So what is new in heaven?” Friedrich
Wilhelm August Argelander (1799–1875), astronomer at the University of Bonn,
Germany, answered “Does his majesty already know what is old?” This second
volume of Forensic Pathology Reviews is intended to complement rather than
replace the classical textbooks of forensic pathology by providing those interested
in death investigation with the state-of-the-art accounts of special topics from
various fields of forensic pathology and death scene investigation.
Chapter 1 examines the medicolegal aspects of death resulting from star-
vation (i.e., as a result of deliberate withholding of food from infants). The author
provides deep insight into how an expert opinion may be formed on the degree
and duration of starvation by applying different classification systems of protein-
energy malnutrition to such cases. In Chapter 2, the authors present a fundamental
and detailed look at the pathological features of head injuries that are inflicted
by glass bottles. The presentation of the characteristic morphological findings in
such cases is complemented by relevant experimental biomechanical data and
valuable guidelines for practical casework. Chapter 3 devotes attention to the
current understanding of the clinical and pathological features of primary cerebral
neoplasms, according to the World Health Organization’s classification scheme.
In particular, the role of these unique tumors as a cause of sudden, unexpected
death is emphasized. Chapter 4 concerns obesity, one of the pre-eminent health
issues in the Western world. In the United States, approximately 300,000 adult
deaths can be attributed annually to obesity-related complications. The authors
provide the reader with an exhaustive overview concerning aspects of the obesity
epidemic, definitions and measurements of obesity, and risk factors, as well as
other issues relevant to the forensic pathologist, such as premature death relating
to obesity, pathologies, and causes of death.
Chapter 5 takes a comprehensive look at what the pathologist may encounter
when dealing with infant and early childhood asphyxial deaths. The authors point
to the differential diagnosis between inflicted (homicidal) and accidental
asphyxias, airway obstruction from natural causes, foreign body impaction, and
sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). In Chapters 6 and 7, highly interesting
topics related to suicide are discussed. Chapter 6 deals with planned and unplanned
ix