Citation

Tharp AM, Jason DR. Am. J. Forensic Med. Pathol. 2009; 30(1): 49-51.

Affiliation

Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Roanoke, VA 24019, USA. amy.tharp@vdh.virginia.gov

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/PAF.0b013e3181859fd0

PMID

19237855

Abstract

Anomalous sutures of the parietal bone are exceedingly rare events. We present the case of a child admitted to the hospital after a near-drowning incident who subsequently expired. He was diagnosed with a parietal skull fracture by computed tomography scan before death. This was found to be an anomalous suture by postmortem histologic examination. Division of the parietal bone is an unusual event with anomalous sutures, which can be mistaken for fractures on radiographic or postmortem examination. Although fractures are much more common, it is prudent to evaluate all fractures and/or fracture-like abnormalities by histologic examination when possible to avoid misdiagnosing blunt trauma to the head.

Language: en