Formation of Tyrosine Crystals in the Gastrointestinal Tract: Uncommon Putrefactive Artifact.
- Author:
Sang Yong LEE
1
;
Young Shik CHOI
;
Mie Ae LIM
Author Information
1. Department of Forensic medicine, National Institute of Scientific Investigation, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Postmortem artifact;
Tyrosine
- MeSH:
Artifacts*;
Autopsy;
Cadaver;
Cause of Death;
Diagnosis, Differential;
Gastrointestinal Tract*;
Korea;
Mucous Membrane;
Spectrum Analysis;
Tyrosine*
- From:Korean Journal of Legal Medicine
2000;24(1):20-24
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Distinction of antemortem changes from postmortem artifacts is of obvious importance in determining the cause of death. Problems in differential diagnosis may occur as a result of faulty autopsy technique, decomposition changes and destructive environmental factors. Recently we experienced a formation of tyrosine crystals on the gastric and esophageal mucosa of decomposed corpse. The tyrosine crystals found on the gastric and esophageal mucosa were very similar and small pin-head sized whitish gray granules. At first we suspected them as a certain drugs or toxic substances. But the granular materials were confirmed as tyrosine crystals by infrared spectrum analysis. So we report here as a first confirmed case in korea. We think the tyrosine crystal is formed by putrefactive processes and consider as one of the putrefactive artifacts.
