[Differential diagnosis of hematotympanum in forensic autopsy].

In a living patient, a hemotympanum can be a sign of a temporal bone fracture. Postmortem endoscopy in forensic autopsy cases also revealed hemotympanum findings without any fracture. Thoracic compression or cranio-facial congestion were probably the pathogenetic mechanism in some of the cases. An engorgement of the internal and external jugular veins was found in all cases. Due to increased intravenous and intraarterial pressure, capillary hemorrhages were revealed in endoscopy and histological sections.