Characteristics of postmortem changes in the brain

Shchegolev A.I.; Tumanova U.N.; Savva O.V.

doi:https://doi.org/10.17116/sudmed20246706156

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Abstract:

The study aimed to analyze the literature data on postmortem changes in the brain and their use to determine the time since death. The earliest manifestations of brain cell autolysis are detected by electron microscopy (15—20 minutes after death). The longer the postmortem period, the more morphofunctional changes in the brain are revealed by histological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical studies. The pronouncement of postmortem changes varies in different brain divisions and structural elements. Postmortem scanning is the most efficient way to visualize postmortem hypostases in the brain. Brain tissue autolysis development reduces the pronouncement of grooves and convolutions, as well as CT density and contrast of structures on MR images.

Keywords:

brain

postmortem changes

autolysis

time since death

Authors:

Shchegolev A.I.

National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after Academician V.I. Kulakov

ORCID: 0000-0002-2111-1530

Tumanova U.N.

National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after Academician V.I. Kulakov

ORCID: 0000-0002-0924-6555

Savva O.V.

National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after Academician V.I. Kulakov;
Bureau of Forensic Medicine named after A.I. Mastbaum

ORCID: 0000-0002-0926-5609

Received:

12.01.2024

Accepted:

22.01.2024

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