Journal List > Korean J Leg Med > v.43(1) > 1117333

Park, Lee, Yang, Kim, Lee, and Cha: Traumatic Rupture of the Middle Cerebral Artery Followed by Acute Basal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Tailored Approach in Forensic Pathology by Aid of Postmortem Angiographic Findings

Abstract

We present the case of a 23-year-old man who suddenly collapsed during a physical altercation with his friends while in a drunken state. The postmortem computed tomography (CT) with angiography revealed acute basal subarachnoid hemorrhage with rupture of the left middle cerebral artery. On autopsy, the head, face, mandible and neck showed multifocal hemorrhages with fracture of the hyoid bone, and the pathologic findings of the brain was consistent with CT findings. However, the vascular rupture site was not observed macroscopically. On histologic examination, a microscopic focal rupture was identified at the proximal portion of the middle cerebral artery, and possibility of arteriopathy was considered. This case illustrates that other parts of intracerebral arteries (other than the vertebral arteries) can be the culprit of rupture in the case of traumatic basal subarachnoid hemorrhage, and the postmortem angiographic findings can be helpful in targeting the site of vascular injury. Furthermore, meticulous sampling of intracranial vessels could help find the vascular rupture site and identify any histologic findings suspicious of arteriopathy. Therefore, we suggest that postmortem angiography can be an effective and adjunctive tool for a tailored approach in finding the vascular injury, and that histologic examination of both the intracranial and extracranial arteries be important to medicolegally ensure the death of traumatic basal subarachnoid hemorrhage and to examine presence of arteriopathy as a predisposing factor.

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Fig. 1.
The postmortem computed tomography angiography revealed focal contrast extravasation from proximal segment of left middle cerebral artery suggestive of vascular rupture.
kjlm-43-23f1.tif
Fig. 2.
Multiple contusions were observed on the head and neck.
kjlm-43-23f2.tif
Fig. 3.
Acute basal subarachnoid hemorrhage was observed at the base of the brain.
kjlm-43-23f3.tif
Fig. 4.
The rupture site was not visible on gross examination. The arrow indicates the proximal segment of left middle left middle cerebral artery where postmortem computed tomography angiography demonstrated the profuse contrast leakage.
kjlm-43-23f4.tif
Fig. 5.
A microscopic focal rupture was observed with thrombus (arrow). Adjacent wall revealed fibromuscular disorganization with focal mediolysis (asterisk), suspicious of angiopathy (H&E, ×40).
kjlm-43-23f5.tif
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