Death from renal cyst: spontaneous or traumatic rupture?
We report an unusual death of an apparently healthy 56-year-old male due to massive hemorrhage caused by rupture of an artery in the wall of a solitary renal cyst, possibly after a relatively minor trauma. Fatalities due to spontaneous or posttraumatic rupture of renal cysts are extremely rare but can represent a potential danger for people with acquired cystic kidney disease. Our report describes results of the forensic investigation and discusses possible mechanisms of the rupture.
Rainio
Juha
J
State Provincial Office of Southern Finland, Helsinki, Finland. juha.rainio@helsinki.fi
De Giorgio
Fabio
F
Carbone
Arnaldo
A
D003560:Cysts / Q000473:pathology*; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006406:Hematoma / Q000473:pathology; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012253:Rib Fractures / Q000473:pathology; D012421:Rupture / Q000473:pathology