Vertebral artery rupture in traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage detected by postmortem angiography

A fatal subarachnoid haemorrhage from a ruptured normal intracranial vertebral artery in a 49-year-old male, following a blow to the head, was revealed by a postmortem angiographic technique using radiopaque silicone rubber as a contrast medium vulcanizing at room temperature. No fracture of the atlas or connection between intracranial vessels and extracranial soft tissue haematoma could be visualized. We advocate the use of postmortem angiography in the diagnosis of suspected head trauma sustained in fights.