Thyroid cartilage asymmetry as a potential diagnostic finding for occult cartilaginous fractures for the evaluation of nonfatal manual strangulation

Heimer, Jakob; Chatzaraki, Vasiliki; Pameijer, Frank A; Schweitzer, Wolf; Thali, Michael J; Ampanozi, Garyfalia

doi:10.1016/j.fri.2021.200445

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Heimer, J., Chatzaraki, V., Pameijer, F. A., Schweitzer, W., Thali, M. J., & Ampanozi, G. (2021). Thyroid cartilage asymmetry as a potential diagnostic finding for occult cartilaginous fractures for the evaluation of nonfatal manual strangulation. Forensic Imaging, 25, 200445. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fri.2021.200445

Abstract

Objective: This study is based on the hypothesis that occult cartilaginous fractures of the thyroid cartilage (TC) may result in asymmetry of the thyroid cartilage framework. Justification of this hypothesis was provided by an estimation of the prevalence of TC asymmetry based on a consecutive postmortem study group. The findings were then compared to three cases of nonfatal manual strangulation and one case of survival of blunt trauma to the neck. Methodology: TC images from a consecutive two-year sample from the institutional postmo