title: [Thyroglobulin content of the blood in cases of hanging].
abstract: Thyroglobulin (Tg) was determined in serum of heart blood from the bodies of 24 people who had died by hanging. In contrast to cases of sudden death (Tg 22.7 +/- 13.5 ng/ml) the Tg values varied over a wide range (from 12 to more than 400 ng/ml). The highest concentrations were observed in cases of incomplete suspension, e.g. hanging in a sitting or semi-reclining posture. We conclude that the duration of the death agony has an influence on the Tg level in serum. Except of diseases of the thyroid gland (carcinoma, adenoma) a high level of Tg in serum may be a helpful adjunct in the diagnosis of mechanical forces to the neck region inflicted before death.
authors.affiliation: Institut für gerichtliche Medizin, Medizin Akademie Dresden, Deutsche Demokratische Republik.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Erfurt
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Franke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000097:blood*; D002423:Cause of Death; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D013405:Suicide / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D013954:Thyroglobulin
vernacular_title: Thyreoglobulin-Gehalt im Blut und Erhängen.