Citation

Maghin F, Andreola SA, Boracchi M, Gentile G, Maciocco F, Muccino E, Zoja R. Med. Leg. J. 2018; ePub(ePub): 25817218764754.

Affiliation

2 Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute Sezione di Medicina Legale e delle Assicurazioni Università degli Studi, di Milano via Luigi Mangiagalli, Milano, Italy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Medico-Legal Society, Publisher SAGE Publications)

DOI

10.1177/0025817218764754

PMID

29561228

Abstract

The authors used a particular protocol on putrefied corpses to highlight the cutaneous furrow. Two groups of cadavers were selected: in the first group (suicide by hanging mechanical asphyxia), the authors sampled cutaneous lozenges on the furrow still macroscopically recognisable, while in the second group (corpses deceased by different means), we sampled cutaneous lozenges in the hypostatic leaning. All specimens were divided in two: one underwent standard fixation while the other, previously rehydrated in Sandison's solution, was then fixed in formalin. All specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and Resorcin-Fuchsin. Samples processed with formalin and the H&E staining underlined various artifacts; vice versa, the Sandison solution associated with Resorcin-Fuchsin staining demonstrated the compression of the elastic fibres, with focal positivity in hanged corpses, and diffuse positivity in the entire hypostatic leaning. Sandison's rehydrating solution and Resorcin-Fuchsin staining exalt the supposed application of an asphyctic mean even on putrefied corpses in those cases burdened by a diagnostic doubt.

Language: en

Keywords

Forensic science; Resorcin-Fuchsin staining; Sandison; elastic fibres; putrefaction; rehydration