Work

Pulmonary intravascular mononuclear cell accumulation in cases of mechanical asphyxia due to external neck compression

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: and Mann-Whitney U tests. A multivariable logistic regression model-including age, sex, post-mortem interval (PMI), and body mass index (BMI)-was used to evaluate the independence of the association. Intravascular mononuclear accumulations were observed in 41.9 % of neck-compression deaths versus 17.2 % of controls (p < 0.01; unadjusted OR 3.47, 95 % CI 1.52-7.96). In the multivariable model, external neck compression remained independently associated with the presence of intravascular accumulations (adjusted OR 2.93, 95 % CI 1.14-7.52; p = 0.025), while age, sex, PMI, and BMI showed no significant effect. Immunohistochemistry confirmed that accumulations consisted of mature mononuclear cell subsets. Pulmonary intravascular mononuclear accumulations occur significantly more often in asphyxial deaths involving external neck compression, and this association persists after adjustment for key demographic and post-mortem variables. Although not specific to mechanical asphyxia, these accumulations represent a practical ancillary marker that may support the diagnosis of neck-compression vitality, especially in cases with limited external findings.

Source: Annals of Diagnostic Pathology

DOI: 10.1016/j.anndiagpath.2025.152600

Authors: Anna Laura Santunione, Jessika Camatti, Silvia Corradi, Enrico Silingardi, Rossana Cecchi

Institutions: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, University of Parma, Azienda Sanitaria Unità Locale di Reggio Emilia

Language: English

Topic: Restraint-Related Deaths

Subfield: Emergency Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,580