[Alcohol concentration in the paranasal sinus fluid in drowning]

In 20 of 31 drowned persons we found 0.3 to 3.5 ml fluid in the maxillary and sphenoid sinus. In 18 cases the fluid could be recognised roentgenologically. In 9 cases blood and fluid in the paranasal sinus were free of ethanol. In 6 of 11 cases the concentration of ethanol in blood and fluid of the paranasal sinus corresponded very well, in the other cases the variation ranged from -51.8 to 147%. Ethanol in both blood and fluid of the paranasal sinus seems to confirm the diagnosis "drowning".