NCJ Number
209976
Editor(s)
Michael Tsokos M.D.
Date Published
2005
Length
483 pages
Annotation
This book provides current knowledge on special topics within the field of forensic pathology.
Abstract
Forensic pathology is a subfield of forensic science that is based on a transverse, multiorgan approach including autopsy, histology, immunohistochemistry, bacteriology, DNA techniques, and toxicology. The main goal is the investigation of obscure fatalities. This book offers chapters on death from environmental conditions, forensic neuropathology, forensic pathophysiology, forensic odontology, taphonomy, death from natural causes, vascular conditions, suicide, iatrogenic injury, and imaging techniques. Chapter 1 focuses on issues surrounding the medicolegal investigation of human bodies found in water while chapter 2 provides an overview of the central nervous system changes in humans with HIV-1 infection. Chapter 3 reviews 10 cases of individuals found deceased in a head-down or inverted position and chapter 4 reviews the evidential usefulness of bitemarks. Chapters 5 and 6 deal in the subfield of taphonomy; one chapter reviews the postmortem changes a human body undergoes after death while the other chapter presents findings of a study on the lay times of 1,259 soil-embedded skeletal remains. Chapter 7 discusses the pathological features and medicolegal significance of right and left ventricular arrhythmogenic dysplasia and chapter 8, which also deals with death from natural causes, reviews the morphological, biochemical, and immunological methods for the postmortem diagnosis of suspected anaphylactic deaths. Chapter 9 considers vascular conditions and focuses specifically on the medicolegal evaluation of fatal pulmonary thromboembolism. Chapter 10 reviews trends in suicide in the United States during the 20th century and chapter 11 provides an overview of murder-suicide. Finally, chapter 12 describes iatrogenic injury and discusses aspects of the postmortem examination while chapter 13 reviews the many uses of radiology within the medicolegal realm. The chapters presented here should provide a guide to daily forensic pathology and medicolegal routine. Tables, figures, references, appendixes, index