1Professor and Head, Senior Resident Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Seth GS. Medical College & KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
2Assistant Professor Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Lady Hardinge Medical College & Associated Hospitals, New Delhi, India
*Corresponding Author Dr. Shashank Tyagi, Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Lady Hardinge Medical College & Associated Hospitals, New Delhi -110001, India E-mail: shankstag011@yahoo.in
Online published on 21 March, 2022.
Suicide is a major public health concern around the world. In India, hanging is one of the most common methods to commit suicide.
This study aimed to observe the changes in the parotid, submandibular, and thyroid gland in suicidal hanging.
A prospective observational study was performed and suicidal hanging cases with documented histopathological findings of salivary and thyroid glands were identified. This group was further analyzed about the duration of hanging, weight of deceased, and ligature mark with the position of knot.
Findings of submandibular, parotid, and thyroid glands were observed in 41deaths due to hanging. Out of 41 cases, congestion was seen on histopathological examinationin 36(87.8%) and Focal interstitial infiltration was seen in five cases(12.2%), mostly seen in partial hanging. Focal interstitial hemorrhages in submandibular and parotid glands were seen in 3 cases (16.7%) and 2cases(11.1%)in the thyroid gland where the weight of the deceased was between 61–70 kg.
In situations when there is no other evidence, histopathological examination, especially of the thyroid and salivary glands, can constitute important evidence for proving the ante-mortem nature of hanging. The increased duration of hanging and the weight of the body increases the chances of the presence offocal interstitial hemorrhages in the salivary and thyroid glands.
Focal interstitial hemorrhage, Duration of hanging, Ligature mark, Position of knot, Body weight.
