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Postmortem Lividity Color Change During Rewarming Following Cold Storage: A Case Report of Drowning
Ikuto Takeuchi1, Haruka Ikeda1, Motoo Yoshimiya1
1Department of Forensic Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, JPN.
Cureus
|August 27, 2025
Summary
Postmortem lividity can appear cherry-red, especially after cold storage, but may revert to purplish as it warms. This reversible change in livor mortis is crucial for accurate forensic interpretation.
Area of Science:
- Forensic pathology
- Medical toxicology
Background:
- Postmortem lividity (livor mortis) is a purplish discoloration in dependent areas due to blood pooling.
- Its appearance can be altered by various conditions, potentially causing misinterpretation.
Observation:
- A case of drowning presented with cherry-red postmortem lividity after cold storage.
- The lividity gradually turned purplish as the body rewarmed before autopsy.
Findings:
- This color change demonstrates the reversible, temperature-dependent nature of lividity influenced by oxygenated hemoglobin (O₂Hb).
- This contrasts with the fixed coloration seen in carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
Implications:
- Accurate interpretation of livor mortis requires considering temperature-related changes.
- Understanding these phenomena is vital for forensic evaluations to prevent diagnostic errors.
