Fassina G, Rigato S, Fassan M, Rotter G, Sanavio M, Cecchetto G, Viel G. A case of lethal varicose vein rupture caused by massive leiomyoma.
Forensic Sci Int 2021;
328:111039. [PMID:
34624735 DOI:
10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.111039]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Varicose veins are a common and benign disease, especially affecting the lower limbs of the elderly. This pathology can exhibit several complications, which in the majority of cases do not require medical treatment; life-threatening conditions are possible but extremely rare. We present here a suspected murder case in which a woman was found dead in her home with a large amount of blood soiling the floor and the furniture of her house. Death scene investigation (DSI) with body inspection and bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) were not exhaustive in excluding a homicide, and the prosecutor asked for a forensic autopsy. During the dissection, a uterine neoplasia, which altered the lower limb venous system, was detected, thus allowing to reconstruct the physio-pathological mechanism of the formation and rupture of the varicose vein.
Collapse