[Types and incidence of intravital reactions in cases of suicidal hanging]

In the years 1980-2000 a total of 302 cases of suicidal hanging were analysed at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Białystok. In 140 cases (46.36%) the knot was situated on the neck. In 131 corpses 206 intravital reactions were revealed. Descending incidence of the reactions was as follows: petechial subcutaneous facial and palpebre hemorrhages (33.5%), hemorrhages of muscules sternocleidomustoideus (18.4%), hemorrhages within ligature furrow (11.6%), vertebral cervical fracture (0.7%). In overall material 71.8% were sober persons presenting intravital reactions of the cervical organs to ligature. During autopsy examination skin sections were excised from ligature furrow, muscules sternocleidomustoideus and the carotid artery and then stained with hematoxilin-eosin, orcein, Fuller staining and alcian blue. The carotid artery sections were examined in scanning electron microscope. Macroscopically revealed intravital reactions were fully confirmable by scanning electron microscopic examination. Furthermore, in cases with negative macroscopic image lesions of the common carotid arteries were detected.