This article describes the application of transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis in the medico-legal autopsy. The technique has been found to be of value in investigating pneumoconioses, the particulate material in the lungs of drug addicts, gunshot wounds, electrocution marks and the deposition of heavy metals in internal organs and tattoos. Analysis of pulmonary hilar lymph nodes provides interesting insight into environmental and industrial exposure during life.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
ChurgA. (1982) Fibre counting and analysis in the diagnosis of asbestos-related disease. Human Pathology13, 381–392.
2.
CroninE. (1980) Contact Dermatitis, London, Churchill Livingstone, pp. 830.
3.
DavisJ. M. G.OtteryJ.Le RouxA. (1975) The effect of quartz and other non-coal dusts in Coal-workers' Pneumoconiosis In: Particles and Vapours: Symposium Proceedings, Ed. WaltonW. H., Oxford, Pergamon Press, pp. 691–702.
4.
GreenF.HY.LaqueurW. A. (1980) Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis in Pathology Annual, Vol. 15, Part 2, Ed. SommersS. C.RosenP. P., New York Appleton-Century-Crofts, pp. 333–372.
5.
JonesW. R. (1932) Silicotic lungs; the minerals they contain. J. Hygiene32, 307–331.
6.
Le BouffantL.DanielH.MartinJ. C. (1977) Quartz as a causative factor in pneumoconiotic lesions in coal miners. Commission of the European Communities—Industrial health and medicine Series No. 19, 1–65
7.
McLayA. L. C.TonerP. G. (1981) Diagnostic electron microscopy in recent advances in histopathology, No. 11, Ed. AnthonyP. P.MacSweenR. N. N., Edinburgh, Churchill Livingstone, p. 245.
8.
MenziesR. C.ScroggieR. J.LabowitzD. I. (1981) Characteristics of silenced firearms—their wounding effects. J. For. Sci.26, 239–262.
9.
PolsonC. J.GeeD. J. (1933) The essentials of Forensic Medicine3rd ed.Oxford, Pergamon Press, p. 302.
10.
SpencerH. (1977) Pathology of the Lung, 3rd ed, Oxford, Pergamon Press, pp, 371–461
11.
UnderwoodJ. C. E.HuckP. (1978) Thorotrast associated hepatic angiosarcoma with 36 years latency, Cancer42, 2610–2612.
12.
VallyathanN. V.GreenF. H. Y.CraigheadJ. E. (1980) Recent advances in the study of mineral pneumoconiosis In: Pathology Annual, Vol. 15, Part 2, Ed. SommersS. C.RosenP. P., New York, Appleton-Century-Crofts, pp. 77–104.
13.
WarfordA. (1979) Pulmonary silicosis. A case diagnosed by needle aspiration biopsy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Am. J. Clin. Path.72, 871–875.
