The UV hand lamp as a helpful instrument for macroscopic visualisation of myocardial fibrosis during autopsy.
The application of ultraviolet light in forensic practice is a well-tested method to visualise traces or skin alterations. When viewing myocardial sections under UV light at autopsy, bluish-white fluorescent areas became visible that could not be detected in the seemingly homogenous myocardium in daylight. A systematic comparison of the macroscopic cardiac findings and the pertinent histological sections showed that in all cases with a positive UV fluorescence myocardial fibrosis or lipomatosis could be confirmed by histological methods. The examination for UV fluorescence of the myocardium seems to be a simple and rapid method improving the macroscopic perceptibility of fibrotic changes and minor scars.
Bohnert
M
M
University of Freiburg, Institute of Legal Medicine, Albertstrasse 9, 79104 Freiburg, Germany. bohnert@sun11.uk1.unl-freiburg.de
Jauch
E
E
Pollak
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy / Q000379:methods*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000473:pathology*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays