Clinical forensic radiology in strangulation victims: forensic expertise based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings

Yen, Kathrin; Vock, Peter; Christe, Andreas; Scheurer, Eva; Plattner, Thomas; Schön, Corinna; Aghayev, Emin; Jackowski, Christian; Beutler, Verena; Thali, Michael J; Dirnhofer, Richard (2007). Clinical forensic radiology in strangulation victims: forensic expertise based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. International journal of legal medicine, 121(2), pp. 115-23. Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag 10.1007/s00414-006-0121-y

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Based on only one objective and several subjective signs, the forensic classification of strangulation incidents concerning their life-threatening quality can be problematic. Reflecting that it is almost impossible to detect internal injuries of the neck with the standard forensic external examination, we examined 14 persons who have survived manual and ligature strangulation or forearm choke holds using MRI technique (1.5-T scanner). Two clinical radiologists evaluated the neck findings independently. The danger to life was evaluated based on the "classical" external findings alone and in addition to the radiological data. We observed hemorrhaging in the subcutaneous fatty tissue of the neck in ten cases. Other frequent findings were hemorrhages of the neck and larynx muscles, the lymph nodes, the pharynx, and larynx soft tissues. Based on the classical forensic strangulation findings with MRI, eight of the cases were declared as life-endangering incidents, four of them without the presence of petechial hemorrhage but with further signs of impaired brain function due to hypoxia. The accuracy of future forensic classification of the danger to life will probably be increased when it is based not only on one objective and several subjective signs but also on the evidence of inner neck injuries. However, further prospective studies including larger cohorts are necessary to clarify the value of the inner neck injuries in the forensic classification of surviving strangulation victims.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Service Sector > Institute of Legal Medicine
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Radiology, Neuroradiology and Nuclear Medicine (DRNN) > Institute of Diagnostic, Interventional and Paediatric Radiology
04 Faculty of Medicine > Service Sector > Institute of Legal Medicine > Management

UniBE Contributor:

Yen, Kathrin, Vock, Peter, Christe, Andreas, Scheurer, Eva, Plattner, Thomas, Schön, Corinna, Aghayev, Emin, Jackowski, Christian, Beutler, Verena, Thali, Michael, Dirnhofer, Richard

ISSN:

0937-9827

ISBN:

17206435

Publisher:

Springer-Verlag

Language:

English

Submitter:

Factscience Import

Date Deposited:

04 Oct 2013 14:54

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:16

Publisher DOI:

10.1007/s00414-006-0121-y

PubMed ID:

17206435

Web of Science ID:

000244092400005

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.23061

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/23061 (FactScience: 38766)

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