title: Sudden death of a swimmer in water caused by heterotopic intracranial ossification and anomaly of the skull base.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Expression of immersion syndrome implies sudden and unexpected death of swimmer in water. A drowned swimmer is still a riddle for the forensic and clinical doctors. Pathophysiological mechanisms which cause immersion syndrome may be divided into vegetatively regulating and mechanical ones.
  
  
  METHODS
  We presented heterotopic intracranial ossification with the anomaly of the skull base bones development in a young man, a swimmer, drowned after entering water and where the circumstances required expertise in forensic medicine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intracranial heterotopic ossification with or without a disorder in the development of skull bones may be one of the causes of immersion syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Serbia. pvladimir@ieunet.rs
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pilija
authors.forename: Branislav
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Budakov
authors.forename: Ljiljana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gvozdenović
authors.forename: Slobodan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Savović
authors.forename: Marija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mihalj
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004332:Drowning / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007101:Immersion / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000150:complications*; D012886:Skull / Q000473:pathology; D019291:Skull Base / Q000002:abnormalities*; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects