OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between adrenal hemorrhage and the cause of death, age and gender. METHODS: Eighty-two cases of adrenal hemorrhage were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Adrenal hemorrhage occurred mostly in cases of sudden death, infection, trauma and asphyxia. Male had more chance than female to have adrenal hemorrhage. Adrenal hemorrhage caused by sudden death, trauma and poisoning was more frequently seen in young adults, whereas adrenal hemorrhage in children as well as in fetus and newborns was often caused by infection as well as sudden death and asphyxia respectively. Adrenal hemorrhage caused by sudden death and asphyxia was mainly located in medulla, while the infection usually induced hemorrhage in cortex. Adrenal hemorrhage caused by trauma showed an equal opportunity in either the cortex or medulla. CONCLUSION Our data indicate that adrenal hemorrhage might provide some clues in searching for the cause of death.
Adolescent ; Adrenal Gland Diseases/pathology* ; Adult ; Autopsy ; Cause of Death ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Death, Sudden ; Forensic Pathology ; Hemorrhage/pathology* ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult