DIFFERENTIAL-DIAGNOSIS OF HEMOTYMPANUM IN FORENSIC AUTOPSY

In a living patient, a hemotympanum can be a sign of a temporal bone f racture. Postmortem endoscopy in forensic autopsy cases also revealed hemotympanum findings without any fracture. Thoracic compression or cr anio-facial congestion were probably the pathogenetic mechanism in som e of the cases. An engorgement of the internal and external jugular ve ins was found in all cases. Due to increased intravenous and intraarte rial pressure, capillary hemorrhages were revealed in endoscopy and hi stological sections.