Byard Roger W, Farrell Emily, Simpson Ellie
Discipline of Pathology, The University of Adelaide, Level 3 Medical School North Building, Frome Road, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia.
Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2008;4(1):9-14. doi: 10.1007/s12024-007-0025-2. Epub 2007 Aug 7.
A study was undertaken of 629 cases autopsied at Forensic Science SA, Adelaide, Australia over a 10-year period from 1994 to 2004 where significant decomposition had been documented. The age range of victims was 10 months to 92 years (mean 51.5 +/- 18.1 years). There were 498 males (79%) and 131 females (21%) (M:F = 3.8:1). Deaths in 289 of the 629 cases (46%) were due to natural causes, with 179 suicides (28%), 83 accidents (13%), and 36 homicides (6%). The cause of death was ascertained in 89% of cases and the manner of death in 93% of cases. In 35 cases (6%) both the cause and manner could not be determined. Numbers of suicides were higher in younger age groups while deaths from organic illnesses predominated in later life. The number of cases in summer was significantly greater than in winter. Despite technical difficulties in handling decomposed bodies, and artifactual alteration of tissue structure and microscopic features, the autopsy was still a useful diagnostic exercise. While it is likely that more information may be gleaned from fresh bodies in perfectly preserved states, decomposed bodies may reveal significant anatomical and pathological features that enable both the cause and manner of death to be established.
对1994年至2004年期间在澳大利亚阿德莱德的南澳大利亚法医科学中心进行尸检的629例案件进行了一项研究，这些案件均有明显腐败的记录。受害者年龄范围为10个月至92岁（平均51.5±18.1岁）。有498名男性（79%）和131名女性（21%）（男:女 = 3.8:1）。629例案件中有289例（46%）死于自然原因，179例自杀（28%），83例意外事故（13%），36例凶杀案（6%）。89%的案件确定了死因，93%的案件确定了死亡方式。35例（6%）案件的死因和死亡方式均无法确定。自杀人数在较年轻年龄组中较高，而器质性疾病导致的死亡在晚年占主导地位。夏季的案件数量明显多于冬季。尽管处理腐败尸体存在技术困难，且组织结构和微观特征存在人为改变，但尸检仍是一项有用的诊断工作。虽然从保存完好的新鲜尸体中可能会获取更多信息，但腐败尸体可能会揭示重要的解剖学和病理学特征，从而能够确定死因和死亡方式。
