MORPHOHISTOLOGICAL FEATURES OF OLD BRUISES: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Abstract

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Background. As common skin lesions bruises have important significance in forensic expert reports in determining the time of death in many cases of domestic violence or child abuse. Aim. The purpose of this study was to note the features in old bruises, by evaluation of their morpohistological features. Material and Methods. The study was performed on 30 human skin samples divided into control and experimental group. The experimental group included bruised human skin with bruises aged >10 days. Paraffin sections of the skin were stained with Hematoxillin-eosin and Perl's Prussian Blue methods of staining, evaluated by light microscopy. Results and Discussion. Morphological analysis of the skin in the experimental group featured formations with yellow to pale yellow coloration, with blurred edges, that responds to the field of bleeding. Qualitative histological analysis demonstrated presence of dilated fibrous septa in dermis and hypodermis with debri of extravasated erythrocytes due to ruptured blood vessels, infiltration with macrophages and presence of hematoidin granules in the area of bleeding. Conclusions. Morphological results have shown changes in the skin coloration, without damage of it`s integrity. Histological findings showed hemosiderin-laden macrophage infiltration in the area of bleeding, together with tissue debris and hematoidin particles. These histological features appear in direction of healing of the bruise, as a result of phagocytosis of the erythrocytes and removing of the tissue debris.