Citation

Ruder TD, Ketterer T, Preiss U, Bolliger M, Ross S, Gotsmy WF, Ampanozi G, Germerott T, Thali MJ, Hatch GM. Leg. Med. (Elsevier) 2011; 13(2): 91-94.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Japanese Society of Legal Medicine, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.legalmed.2010.11.005

PMID

21185765

Abstract

We present a case of an individual who stabbed himself through the heart with a large knife. Post mortem computed tomography (CT) and CT-angiography were used to assess the stab channel and to reconstruct the sequence of events. After penetrating injuries to the chest, both the intra-thoracic organs and the injury causing instrument may shift (e.g. from pnemothorax) and render forensic reconstructions more challenging. This case report illustrates the potentials and the pitfalls of CT for the reconstruction of penetrating injures to the chest.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Suicide; Autopsy; Forensic Pathology; Wounds, Stab; Heart Injuries; Coronary Angiography; Tomography, Spiral Computed