[Asphyxial death by laryngopharyngeal tumor--two autopsy cases]

Case 1. A 44-year-old male died about 3 h after paracenteses of both palatine tonsils. A 6.5 x 2.5 x 2.0 cm tumor, caused by bleeding and edema, was revealed at medico-legal autopsy. This tumor extended from the right palatine tonsil to the right edge of epiglottis. The cause of death was determined to be acute asphyxia due to the obstruction of the airway by the tumor. Case 2. A 51-year-old female was thought to have been killed by manual strangulation. At medico-legal autopsy, three malignant tumors, each of which was not as large as the tip of the little finger, were found in the lower pharynx. There were no findings of acute asphyxia death. The cause of death was determined to be delayed asphyxia caused by the malignant tumors.