TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2019//
TI  - A fatal mediastinitis due to a neck trauma from an undeclared assault
JO  - Journal of forensic sciences
A1  - Cascini, Fidelia
A1  - Biondo, Domenico
A1  - Giannace, Carolina
A1  - Filograna, Laura
A1  - Laino, Domenico
A1  - Capelli, Arnaldo
A1  - Pascali, Vincenzo L.
SP  - 1234
EP  - 1237
VL  - 64
IS  - 4
N2  - History of neck trauma should be promptly investigated in patients with severe infections of the chest as mediastinitis. We present a forensic case of a death due to a mediastinitis in a patient with an undetected fracture of the superior horn of the thyroid cartilage that was exclusively revealed at autopsy examination. Histological analyses of the neck tissues showed signs of pharyngeal mucosal microperforation caused by the fracture and surrounded by an inflammatory reaction. The fracture was caused by a not declared manual strangulation attempt, happened several days before medical evaluations. We share our experience to emphasize the importance of revealing the etiologies of fatal infections of the mediastinum both for clinical and forensic purposes.<br><br>© 2018 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0022-1198
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.13957
ID  - ref1
ER  -