title: Enlarged parietal foramina: a rare forensic autopsy finding.
abstract: Enlarged parietal foramina (EPF) are a quite rare developmental defect of the parietal bone which has to be distinguished from the normal small parietal foramina. We report a forensic case of an individual found in an advanced state of putrefaction in his own house with an undetermined cause of death. No evidence of trauma was observed, and the toxicological exam was negative. The victim was a 40-year-old man with a history of epilepsy. The large biparietal foramina, a rare anatomical variation and unusual autopsy finding, were observed at autopsy. The recognition of anatomical variations is important to avoid false interpretations and conclusions and has a significant potential as an identity factor, thus contributing to positive identification.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal. drcarlosdurao@hotmail.com.|Trauma and Orthopaedics Department, Hospital Vila Franca de Xira, Lisbon, Portugal. drcarlosdurao@hotmail.com.|Orthopaedic Surgeon and Forensic Expert, Hospital Vila Franca Xira, Estrada Nacional n°1, Povos, 2600-009, Vila Franca de Xira, Lisboa, Portugal. drcarlosdurao@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Durão
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Dina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carpinteiro
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Frederico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pedrosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Anthropology, Legal Medicine Institute Afrânio Peixoto, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Eugénia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cunha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004677:Encephalocele / Q000473:pathology*; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010294:Parietal Bone / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Catlin marks; Enlarged parietal foramina; Forensic anthropology; Parietal foramen