title: Postmortem bone marrow analysis in forensic science: study of 73 cases and review of the literature.
abstract: In forensic sciences, bone marrow (BM) is an alternative matrix in postmortem toxicology because of its good resistance to autolysis and contaminations. Nevertheless, few studies have been focused on postmortem BM morphological changes after pathological stimuli. We examined 73 BM samples from forensic autopsies; causes of death were both natural and traumatic. BM samples were collected from the sternum by needle aspiration and biopsy; in selected cases, immunohistochemistry was performed. Few autolytic changes were found; BM cellularity decreased with increasing age and postmortem interval. Notable cell changes were detected in 45 cases (61.64%): neoplastic (n=4), and non-neoplastic BM findings (n=41), including multiorgan failure/sepsis (n=26), myelodisplastic-like conditions (n=11), and anaphylactic reactions (n=4). The results showed that BM cellularity supported circumstantial and autopsy findings, suggesting that BM samples could be a useful tool in forensic science applications.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Bari, P.zza G. Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tattoli
authors.affiliation: Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, University Medical Centre Charité, University of Berlin, Turmstr. 21, Building N, 10559 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsokos
authors.affiliation: Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, University Medical Centre Charité, University of Berlin, Turmstr. 21, Building N, 10559 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sautter
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Charité, University of Berlin, Turmstr. 21, Building N, 10559 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Joannis
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Anagnostopoulos
authors.affiliation: Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Bari, P.zza G. Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Eloisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maselli
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathological Anatomy, University of Bari, P.zza G. Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ingravallo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Hematology, University of Bari, P.zza G. Cesare, 11, 70124, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delia
authors.affiliation: Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Bari, P.zza G. Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy. Electronic address: biagiosolarino@libero.it.
authors.forename: Biagio
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Solarino
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000473:pathology; D001329:Autolysis / Q000473:pathology; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology*; D019046:Bone Marrow Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D015477:Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Chronic / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000473:pathology; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000473:pathology; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000473:pathology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000473:pathology; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bone marrow; Cell morphology; Forensic autopsy; Myelodysplasia; Postmortem investigation; Sepsis