Medico-Legal Implications of Hidden Thyroid Dysfunction: A Study of Two Cases

In this paper we present two cases in which thyroid disorders were unexpectedly brought to view. The question we ponder is whether hidden thyroid dysfunction may be important in the cause, mechanism and manner of death, or just an incidental discovery during the post-mortem examination. A short lite...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medicine, science, and the law science, and the law, 2000-07, Vol.40 (3), p.251-257
Main Authors: De Letter, Els A, Piette, Michel H A, Lambert, Willy E, De Leenheer, André P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Autopsy - methods
Death, Sudden - etiology
Female
Graves Disease - pathology
Humans
Hyperthyroidism - pathology
Hypothyroidism - pathology
Male
Middle Aged
Thyroiditis, Autoimmune - pathology
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Summary:In this paper we present two cases in which thyroid disorders were unexpectedly brought to view. The question we ponder is whether hidden thyroid dysfunction may be important in the cause, mechanism and manner of death, or just an incidental discovery during the post-mortem examination. A short literature review has been conducted in order to evaluate previously reported cases of thyroid pathology and sudden death. The significance of post-mortem evaluation of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) will be considered briefly.
ISSN:0025-8024
2042-1818
DOI:10.1177/002580240004000311