Medicolegal autopsy is a vital tool for obtaining reliable injury mortality data. This study statistically analyzed data obtained from medicolegal autopsies performed in Korea in 2013. The aim of this study was to analyze various aspects of the 4,861 deaths that were categorized as unusual in Korea in 2013. A total of 4,861 deaths were analyzed by gender, age, manner of death, and cause of death. Of the 4,861 deaths, 3,542 (73.3%) were of men and 1,302 (26.7%) were of women. With respect to the manner of death, 54.4% were recorded as unnatural deaths, 38.8% were natural deaths, and 6.9% had unknown causes. Of the 2,642 unnatural deaths, 45.0% were determined to be accidental deaths, 26.3% suicidal, 16.9% homicidal, and 11.8% undetermined. Of the total number of unnatural deaths, 42.1% were trauma-related deaths, for which falling down accounted for 33.8%. Asphyxiation accounted for 16.0% of unnatural deaths, and of these, the predominant cause was hanging (58.8%). In addition, 14.4% of deaths were due to drowning, 12.9% poisoning, 11.0% thermal injuries, 1.8% complications arising from medical procedures, and 0.8% electrocution, starvation, or neglect. Among the 1,886 natural deaths, heart diseases accounted for 52.0% and vascular diseases accounted for 16.9%. Of the 196 deaths among children under the age of 10 years, 41.8% were recorded as unnatural deaths, 45.1% were natural deaths, and 1.5% had unknown causes.
Autopsy* ; Cause of Death ; Child ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Drowning ; Female ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Mortality ; Poisoning ; Starvation ; Vascular Diseases

The stercoral colitis is an inflammatory process involving the colonic wall related to fecal impaction. This rare condition usually has a poor prognosis. We experienced a death case where an 84 years old woman died of stercoral colitis complications after total knee arthroplasty surgery. The fatal complications were peritonitis with systemic inflammatory response syndrome, not accompanying bowel perforations. We would like to show the autopsy case of stercoral colitis and suggest the importance of early suspicion and treatment.
Arthroplasty ; Autopsy ; Colitis ; Colon ; Fecal Impaction ; Female ; Humans ; Knee ; Peritonitis ; Prognosis ; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome

The amniotic band syndrome is a collection of fetal malformations caused by fibrous bands that appear to entangle or entrap various parts of fetus in utero, leading to deformation, malformation, or disruption involving the limbs, craniofacial region and trunk. The incidence of this syndrome is relatively rare. This syndrome often shows irreversible serious outcome. So, early diagnosis of amniotic band syndrome is important. Ultrasonography enables us to detect the amniotic band syndrome prenatally. In the second and third trimester of the pregnancy, it is relatively easy to detect major anomalies of amniotic band syndrome by its characteristic features, including amputation and/or constriction of the extremities, facial clefts, asymmetric encephaloceles and gastroschisis. Five cases of amniotic band syndrome which have been diagnosed prenatally by ultrasonography are discussed. The diagnosis was based on sonographic visualization of amniotic band and associated fetal deformation, malformations or disruption known to characterize the amniotic band syndrome.
Amniotic Band Syndrome* ; Amputation ; Constriction ; Diagnosis* ; Early Diagnosis ; Encephalocele ; Extremities ; Female ; Fetus ; Gastroschisis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Ultrasonography*

Acute gastric dilatation leading to gastric necrosis is rare but potentially fatal condition that can occur in patients with bulimia. It usually develops after a bulimic episode and it is not diagnosed with sufficient rapidity it may lead to gastric perforation followed by peritonitis, sepsis, shock, and death. Because of the rarity of this condition and the patients in whom it occurs, the clinician must maintain a high degree of suspicion when treating patients with eating disorders who present with abdominal pain after a binge. This case report describes a 24-year old woman with acute gastric dilatation due to binge eating, who had the gastrotomy and died of complications such as gastric necrosis and disseminated intravascular coagulation.
Abdominal Pain ; Bulimia ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ; Feeding and Eating Disorders ; Female ; Gastric Dilatation ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Peritonitis ; Sepsis ; Shock

Medicolegal autopsies are a vital tool for obtaining reliable injury mortality data. This study statistically analyzed the data obtained from medicolegal autopsies performed in Korea in 2014. A total of 5,324 deaths were analyzed by sex, age, manner of death, and cause of death. With respect to the manner of death, 56.3% were recorded as unnatural deaths, 38.4% were natural deaths, and 5.3% had unknown causes. Of the 2,998 unnatural deaths, 41.0% were determined to be accidental deaths; 28.1%, suicidal; 16.1%, homicidal; and 14.8%, undetermined. Of the total number of unnatural deaths, 38.8% were trauma-related, wherein falls accounted for 32.7%. Asphyxiation accounted for 16.3% of unnatural deaths; of these, the predominant cause was hanging (59.4%). In addition, 15.0% of the unnatural deaths were due to drowning; 14.8%, poisoning; 11.3%, thermal injuries; 2.5%, complications arising from medical procedures; and 0.4%, electrocution, starvation, or neglect. Among the 2,042 natural deaths, heart diseases accounted for 49.0% and vascular diseases accounted for 17.3%. Of the 170 deaths among children under the age of 10, 38.8% were recorded as unnatural deaths, 54.1% were natural deaths, and 7.1% had unknown causes.
Autopsy* ; Cause of Death ; Child ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Drowning ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Korea* ; Mortality ; Poisoning ; Starvation ; Vascular Diseases

Acute necrotizing esophagitis (AEN), also called "black esophagus," is a rare disorder with an unknown pathogenesis. Endoscopic findings generally show black pigmentation throughout the esophagus. This case also offered rare views of the gross anatomy of this disorder. Histological examination revealed that the mucosal and submucosal layers of the esophagus were involved in the severe necrotizing inflammation. The chief manifestation of this disease is hematemesis from hemorrhage of the upper gastrointestinal tract with a typically multifactorial etiology. AEN is also characterized by a clear boundary at the gastroesophageal junction where the necrosis stops. In this study, we report an autopsy case of a 61-year-old man with necrotizing inflammation throughout the esophagus and esophageal necrosis from the laryngopharynx to the gastroesophageal junction. The patient was a disabled person with a history of alcohol abuse who was also diagnosed with mild coronary arteriosclerosis and fatty liver on the basis of the underlying diseases. In this case, the main etiology for poor perfusion from the distal esophageal area was likely underlying illness, history of alcoholism, and malnutrition.
Alcoholism ; Autopsy* ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Disabled Persons ; Esophagitis* ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Esophagus ; Fatty Liver ; Hematemesis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypopharynx ; Inflammation ; Malnutrition ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Perfusion ; Pigmentation ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsy of the prostate is a common outpatient procedure for diagnosing prostatic cancer. It is a relatively noninvasive, safe, and effective method, as the majority of post-biopsy complications are mild and self-limiting. Fatal complications including infection or massive hemorrhage are rare, but can be life threatening. We herein present an autopsy case of fatal rectal bleeding after prostate biopsy and an analysis of similar cases.
Autopsy ; Biopsy ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Outpatients ; Prostate ; Prostatic Neoplasms

BACKGROUND: The specificity of aortic alteration in the pathogenesis of aortic dissection has been challenged. To obtain comprehensive morphologic data that may enhance the appreciation of the pathogenesis of aortic disease in normal aorta among Koreans, we performed a morphologic study of aorta with aging. METHODS: The histologic and morphometric studies of ascending aorta without cardiovascular disease were carried out on seventy-two autopsy cases. Alcian blue-stained sections were subjected to morphometric study using image analysis system. The age range of the cases was from newborn to those who had been in their eighties. RESULTS: The most prominent feature of aging aorta was fragmentation and loss of elastic lamellae, and expansion of interlamellar spaces. Cystic medial necrosis of varying degrees was observed in almost every specimen. On the morphometric study, the percentage area of mucoid degeneration revealed no statistically significant differences among the varying age groups. Compared to males, female subjects exhibited significant mucoid degeneration (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The alteration of elastic lamellae is increased with age. Cystic medial necrosis is not considered merely an aging phenomenon, but is enhanced in the aorta of females.
Age Factors ; Aging ; Aorta* ; Aortic Diseases ; Autopsy ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Necrosis* ; Pathology ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Acute epiglottitis is a local bacterial infection of the supraglottic area. Epiglottitis is generally caused by organisms which invoke an inflammatory response that develops rapid obstructive edema. The disease rarely progresses to abscess stage, either because medical intervention is sought or death by asphyxiation ensues. A 38-year-old, mentally ill but physically healthy woman died of airway obstruction caused by acute epiglottitis forming an abscess. She died unexpectedly and suddenly showing only minor nonspecific symptoms.
Abscess* ; Adult ; Airway Obstruction ; Bacterial Infections ; Death, Sudden* ; Edema ; Epiglottitis ; Female ; Humans ; Mentally Ill Persons

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a bacterial infection of ascites arising from liver cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome and so on. Primary bacterial peritonitis (PBP) is a rare intraabdomial infection in the absence of underlying diseases or rupture of the viscus. The authors report an autopsy case of posttraumatic primary bacterial peritonitis in the otherwise physically healthy young female. She was beaten repeatedly around the abdomen with human physical instruments for a prolonged time.
Abdomen ; Ascites ; Autopsy ; Bacterial Infections ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Peritonitis* ; Rupture