Petechial hemorrhages of the tympanic membrane in attempted suicide by hanging: A case report
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Petechial hemorrhages of the tympanic membrane in attempted suicide by hanging : A case report. / Rasmussen, Eva Rye; Larsen, Per Leganger; Andersen, Kjeld; Larsen, Michael; Qvortrup, Klaus; Hougen, Hans Petter.
In: Journal of Clinical Forensic and Legal Medicine, Vol. 20, No. 2, 2013, p. 119-21.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Petechial hemorrhages of the tympanic membrane in attempted suicide by hanging
T2 - A case report
AU - Rasmussen, Eva Rye
AU - Larsen, Per Leganger
AU - Andersen, Kjeld
AU - Larsen, Michael
AU - Qvortrup, Klaus
AU - Hougen, Hans Petter
N1 - Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - It is important to determine whether a person has been strangulated and the diagnosis is not always straightforward since ligature marks are not always present. In forensic medicine the physical examination recommended is careful inspection of the head and neck region, oral cavity, examination of the eyes including the conjunctiva on both the upper and lower eyelids and photo documentation. Petechial hemorrhages of the conjunctiva are considered marker of life threatening hanging or strangulation. Hemorrhage from ears, perforated tympanic membrane and haematotympanum are scarcely described in case reports of strangulated patients. To our knowledge we are the first to report petechial hemorrhages of the tympanic membrane in a patient following attempted suicide by hanging. We believe that the petechial hemorrhages develop from the capillaries located in lamina propria of the epidermal layer above the fibrous layer. This assumption is made on the basis of our assessment of a normal tympanic membrane with light microscopy. Petechial hemorrhages of the tympanic membrane might in fact be the only sign of life threatening pressure applied to the neck. This is a very important finding and prospective studies should be conducted for further clarification on the matter.
AB - It is important to determine whether a person has been strangulated and the diagnosis is not always straightforward since ligature marks are not always present. In forensic medicine the physical examination recommended is careful inspection of the head and neck region, oral cavity, examination of the eyes including the conjunctiva on both the upper and lower eyelids and photo documentation. Petechial hemorrhages of the conjunctiva are considered marker of life threatening hanging or strangulation. Hemorrhage from ears, perforated tympanic membrane and haematotympanum are scarcely described in case reports of strangulated patients. To our knowledge we are the first to report petechial hemorrhages of the tympanic membrane in a patient following attempted suicide by hanging. We believe that the petechial hemorrhages develop from the capillaries located in lamina propria of the epidermal layer above the fibrous layer. This assumption is made on the basis of our assessment of a normal tympanic membrane with light microscopy. Petechial hemorrhages of the tympanic membrane might in fact be the only sign of life threatening pressure applied to the neck. This is a very important finding and prospective studies should be conducted for further clarification on the matter.
U2 - 10.1016/j.jflm.2012.05.007
DO - 10.1016/j.jflm.2012.05.007
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 23357399
VL - 20
SP - 119
EP - 121
JO - Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
JF - Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
SN - 1752-928X
IS - 2
ER -
ID: 44096402