EFTA00130086¶
OFFICE OF CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER 520 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016 Barbara A. Sampson, MD-Ph.D., Chief Medical Examiner¶
M-19-19432¶
ANTHROPOLOGY¶
Department of Forensic Pathology¶
Forensic Anthropology Unit¶
(212) 447-2763¶
BACKGROUND:¶
On 12 August 2019, the Forensic Anthropology Unit received a hyoid and larynx that were removed by Dr. during the autopsy of a 66-year-old male and submitted for a trauma analysis. The hyoid was cleaned in warm water and a combination of sodium bicarbonate and enzyme detergent. The larynx was placed in formalin and the soft tissues of the thyroid and cricoid were manually removed to facilitate examination. The specimens were examined radiographically, macroscopically and microscopically.¶
Figure 1. Diagram of the submitted hyoid and larynx (anterior view) showing the approximate fracture locations (red lines).¶
Figure 2. Overview of the submitted hyoid bone exhibiting a fracture to the left greater horn (white arrow).¶
FINDINGS:¶
Hyoid¶
The greater horns of the hyoid are bilaterally fused to the hyoid body. There is a fracture of the left greater horn (Figures 1 and 2).¶
The Forensic Anthropology Unit is accredited in Forensic Inspection under ISO/IEC 17020 issued by ANSI National Accreditation Board. Refer to certificate and scope of accreditation FI-0014.¶
EFTA00130087¶
M-19-19432¶
Larynx¶
The thyroid cartilage is almost entirely ossified and the cricoid cartilage is partially ossified. The thyroid exhibits two fractures: one to the left superior horn and one to the right superior horn (Figures 1 and 3). The fractures to both the left and right superior horns occur just superior to the junction with the lamina. The cricoid does not exhibit any fractures.¶
Figure 3. Microscopic (10x) posterior views of fractures (white circles) to the left and right superior horns of the thyroid.¶
SUMMARY:¶
The hyoid bone exhibits a fracture of the left greater horn. The thyroid exhibits two fractures: one to the right superior horn and one to the left superior horn.¶
Date: 21 August 2019¶
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