Fukunaga T, Mizoi Y, Yamashita A, Yamada M, Yamamoto Y, Tatsuno Y, Nishi K
Department of Legal Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Ohtsu, Japan.
Forensic Sci Int. 1992 Feb;53(1):69-79. doi: 10.1016/0379-0738(92)90134-i.
Forty-six cases of child abuse/neglect autopsied during the period of 1967 to 1990 were investigated. The weight and histological findings of the thymus were compared with those of control children. In most abused and/or neglected children, the weight of the thymus decreased conspicuously. Involution correlated well to the degree and period of maltreatment. In cases without weight loss of the thymus, i.e. spasmodic abuse by a mentally deranged parent or foster parent, a short history of maltreatment was noted. On the other hand, marked involution was observed in cases of prolonged physical abuse and/or neglect. Microscopically, a decrease in the number and pyknosis of lymphocytes were observed in the involuted thymus. Atrophy of the thymus was more conspicuous in the cortex than in medulla. Immunohistochemically, CD-1a positive cells (immature thymocytes) decreased in cases with thymic involution. This involution appears to be an important index of the degree and duration of child abuse/neglect. Furthermore, thymic involution in the early stage of childhood may also be related to insufficiency of the immune system.
对1967年至1990年期间进行尸检的46例受虐/被忽视儿童进行了调查。将这些儿童胸腺的重量和组织学检查结果与对照儿童的进行比较。在大多数受虐和/或被忽视的儿童中，胸腺重量明显减轻。胸腺退化与虐待的程度和时间相关。在胸腺没有减重的病例中，即由精神错乱的父母或养父母进行的痉挛性虐待，虐待史较短。另一方面，在长期身体虐待和/或忽视的病例中观察到明显的退化。显微镜下，在退化的胸腺中观察到淋巴细胞数量减少和核固缩。胸腺萎缩在皮质比髓质更明显。免疫组织化学显示，胸腺退化的病例中CD-1a阳性细胞（未成熟胸腺细胞）减少。这种退化似乎是儿童受虐/被忽视程度和持续时间的一个重要指标。此外，儿童早期的胸腺退化也可能与免疫系统功能不足有关。
