title: Diagnosis of drowning: Electrolytes and total protein in sphenoid sinus liquid.
abstract: In this study, electrolyte (sodium (Na), chlorine (Cl), and magnesium (Mg)) and total protein (TP) concentrations and volume of liquid in the sphenoid sinus were examined to determine their usefulness to elucidate whether drowning occurred in freshwater or seawater. We examined 68 cases (seawater drowning group: 27 cases, freshwater drowning group: 21 cases, non-drowning group: 20 cases). There was a significant difference in Na, Cl, Mg, and TP concentrations of liquid in the sphenoid sinus among the three groups (seawater drowning, freshwater drowning, and non-drowning groups). To distinguish freshwater drowning from seawater drowning, Na, Cl, and Mg concentrations of liquid in the sphenoid sinus might serve as useful indicators.
authors.affiliation: Tokyo Medical Examiner's Office, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Forensic Medicine, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan. Electronic address: Akira_Hayakawa@member.metro.tokyo.jp.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hayakawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Terazawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kotaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matoba
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Horioka
authors.affiliation: Tokyo Medical Examiner's Office, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsushige
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukunaga
mesh_terms: D002712:Chlorides / Q000032:analysis; D004332:Drowning / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000032:analysis; D005618:Fresh Water; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012623:Seawater; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis; D013101:Sphenoid Sinus / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D004573:Electrolytes; D011506:Proteins; D012964:Sodium; D008274:Magnesium
keywords: Drowning; Electrolyte; Forensic biochemistry; Forensic diagnosis; Liquid in sphenoid sinus; Total protein