[Coronary embolism in the medico-legal autopsy material (author's transl)].

The author discusses the problem of diagnosis and evaluation of coronary embolism (CL). He presents four cases of his own observation, including histological examinations and a review of the pertinent literature. The following facts are necessary to make the diagnosis of CE: 1. An embolus consisting of foreign elements like tumor-cells, suture material or similar things. 2. Dilatation of the arterial lumen where the embolus is found. 3. No adherence between the embolus and the arterial wall. 4. Normal consistence of the arterial wall. 5. Knowledge of the source of the embolus. 6. Histomorphological conformity of the source of the embolus and the embolus itself. The mechanisms of flow and the interrelation between trauma and CE which are often difficult to judge in forensic medicine are discussed.