Unusual Lichtenberg figures in a lightning strike's victim: Case report and literature review
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Updated: Oct 4, 2025

Method for Recording Broadband High Resolution Emission Spectra of Laboratory Lightning Arcs
Published on: August 27, 2019
Dario Raniero1, Andrea Uberti1, Giovanna Del Balzo1
1Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Forensic Medicine, University of Verona, P.le L.A. Scuro 10, 37134 Verona, Italy.
Abstract:
Lichtenberg figures are pathognomonic markings commonly described as transient pink-red fractal pattern marks on the skin of people struck by a lightning. Their nature and the underlying physiopathology are still largely unknown. Here we describe a Lichtenberg figure in a 45-year-old woman who died due to a lightning strike during a thunderstorm. On autopsy, five days after the fatal event, she presented atypical green Lichtenberg figures on the skin of her abdomen. This appearance has not previously been described in the scientific literature, so a review of literature was done to support our observation.
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