Abstract

Postmortem interval (PMI) estimation, a parameter critical for solving criminal cases, remains a challenge. It has been suggested that elasticity of decomposing tissue may show a relationship to PMI. We measured elasticity of excised porcine skin at regular intervals for 17 days using a novel ultrasound device. Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dunn's pair-wise comparison test was performed on the elastic modulus values from each time-point. We found statistically significant differences (p < 0.0001) between the elastic modulus values. Pair-wise comparison showed that tissue measured with a PMI of 1-4, 6-9, 10-14, and 16-17 days can be distinguished from each other based on elastic modulus values. An overall trend of increasing elastic modulus values with time was also observed. Histology and H&E staining of skin samples at PMI of 1, 5, 8, and 12 days showed increasingly prominent fibre bundles which may explain the observed trend. The results of our study suggest that estimation of PMI using an ultrasound device is promising and should be explored further.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.