Citation

Porzionato A, Guidolin D, Emmi A, Boscolo-Berto R, Sarasin G, Rambaldo A, Macchi V, De Caro R. J. Forensic Sci. 2020; 65(6): 2155-2159.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/1556-4029.14497

PMID

32957166

Abstract

High-quality digital three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions of microscopic findings have been used in anatomical and histopathologic research, but their use in forensic pathology may also be of interest. This paper presents an application of these methods to better characterize the pathway of a stab wound of the anterior surface of the heart in a case of suicide. A portion of the heart wall including the stab wound was serially sectioned for microscopic analysis along the full extent of the wound. Histologic sections were digitally acquired, and a 3D reconstruction was created with ImageJ software for 3D computer graphics. This showed a full-thickness wound path extending to the endocardial surface of the left ventricle, curvilinear in appearance. After correction for shrinkage, 3D reconstruction allowed estimation of the dimensions of the myocardial injury and comparison of the appearance of the wound with the suspected knife used. The curvilinear appearance was considered to reflect injury during myocardial contraction. Complete microscopic sectioning and 3D reconstruction may allow virtual sectioning through various orientations and also provide useful forensic information for selected injuries.

Language: en

Keywords

3D reconstruction; Computer Simulation; forensic pathology; Forensic Pathology; Heart Injuries; histopathology; Humans; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Male; microscopic findings; Microscopy; Photography; stab wound; virtual cut; Wounds, Stab