title: [Site of discovery in the bath tub. Evaluation of a fatality after four years using postmortem roentgen diagnosis].
abstract: On the one hand the following case demonstrates the problems of finding a dead body in the bathroom and on the other hand the importance of postmortem x-ray examinations. The corpse of an 65-year-old woman was discovered in her bath tub. At the body's feet there was a hair dryer. Investigations concerning murder were negative, circumstances appeared to be unsuspicious. That was why a postmortem examination was not performed. -4 years later murder had to be considered. After manual strangling the deceased and the hair dryer were layed into the bath tub. The corpse was exhumed and taken to a forensic autopsy. It was found that the hyoid bone and the superior horn of the thyroid cartilage were both fractured on the right. Damages caused by the preparation itself were excluded by using serial roentgenographs. These observations in combination with histological findings and the results of further investigations convincingly supported the suspicion of strangling by hand.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Rechtsmedizin Johannes-Gutenberg Universität, Mainz.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lasczkowski
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Riepert
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rittner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001494:Baths / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D002423:Cause of Death; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006708:Homicide / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D006928:Hyoid Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D011859:Radiography; D013957:Thyroid Cartilage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*
vernacular_title: Zur Problematik des Auffindeortes Badewanne. Klärung eines Todesfalles nach vier Jahren unter Einsatz postmortaller Röntgendiagnostik.