title: [Confusing muscular hemorrhage in a drowned cadaver. A contribution to differentiation between vital and postmortem changes].
abstract: The autopsy on an body recovered from the water showed evidence of drowning and, in addition, the occurrence of extensive intramuscular bleeding on the neck, in the area of the shoulder girdle and the upper arms. There was a suspicion that criminal violence had been used, and the police carried out extensive investigations; these were inconclusive. The subsequent histological examination of the affected musculature revealed "reactive" changes throughout which corresponded to post mortem damage. The case presented here serves to illustrate the usefulness of muscle histology for differentiating between the occurrence of intramuscular bleeding before and after death; the corresponding histological criteria are outlined.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Rechtsmedizin am Kantonsspital, St. Gallen.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sigrist
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koops
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004332:Drowning / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology*; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D014754:Violence
vernacular_title: Irreführende Muskelblutungen bei einer Wasserleiche.