usefulness of pathology in criminal deaths

Abstract

Histolopathology is the science of pathologically altered tissues. Autopsy and histopathology are closely linked:
as the purpose of medicolegal and scientific autopsies is to identifiy and classify unnatural deaths and to establish
facts for further inferences, there is no doubt that systemic standard histology, at least for the main organs, is an
integral part of a complete post-mortem examination. Histological material evidence in cases of corporal injury
and homicide is necessary. On the one hand, it allows to assess the nature of the injuries macroscopically seen,
to evaluate their extension, their severity, to date wounds and thus to distinguish vital or post-mortem-induced
findings, to estimate length of agony. On the other hand, it permits to confirm a diagnosis when the cause of death
is not sure. It allows to discover microscopic injuries or abnormalities. In conjunction with other findings, they
can attain informative significance. In all cases, the results of histological examination must be compared with the
data of the police investigation, autopsy and any additional test performed, including toxicology