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Erschienen in: International Journal of Legal Medicine 5/2013

01.09.2013 | Case Report

The risk of misinterpreting genital signs of sexual abuse in cadavers: a case report

verfasst von: F. Ambrosetti, E. Palazzo, D. Gibelli, S. Andreola, A. Di Giancamillo, C. Domeneghini, L. Spagnoli, C. Cattaneo

Erschienen in: International Journal of Legal Medicine | Ausgabe 5/2013

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Abstract

The significance of genital findings in a case of suspected child sexual abuse has been widely debated in the past decades, as shown by the different classifications available in literature. In the case of postmortem examination, the search for signs of sexual abuse is considerably more difficult because of the superimposition of postmortem modifications, which may determine tissue modifications that can be mistaken for traumatic lesions. This study aims at reporting a case where presumed findings of the first autopsy were denied by histological analysis; in detail, what looked like a possible bruise of the hymen was correctly recognized as hypostasis (livor) of the hymenal tissue by histological analysis. This case report suggests caution in the analysis and discussion of genital lesions found during postmortem examination since the superimposition of cadaveric modifications may radically modify the morphology of soft tissues.
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Metadaten
Titel
The risk of misinterpreting genital signs of sexual abuse in cadavers: a case report
verfasst von
F. Ambrosetti
E. Palazzo
D. Gibelli
S. Andreola
A. Di Giancamillo
C. Domeneghini
L. Spagnoli
C. Cattaneo
Publikationsdatum
01.09.2013
Verlag
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Erschienen in
International Journal of Legal Medicine / Ausgabe 5/2013
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Elektronische ISSN: 1437-1596
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-013-0891-y

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