Berna Dogan

This study aimed to update reference organ weight values for the brain, heart, lungs, liver, spleen, and kidneys using a large, multicenter autopsy series from different regions of Türkiye and to evaluate their associations with sex, age, height, body weight, BMI, and cause of death. Adult forensic autopsies performed between November 2023 and November 2024 in six major cities were retrospectively reviewed. Predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied at both case and organ levels to minimize the influence of pathological alterations. A total of 6,896 cases were included in the analysis (80.8% male, 19.2% female). Age and BMI were similar between sexes, whereas males had significantly greater height and body weight (p < 0.001). In both sexes, heart, lung, liver, spleen, and kidney weights were higher in the natural death group (all p < 0.001). Brain weight was higher in males in the forced death group (p < 0.001), while no significant difference was observed in females (p > 0.30). Organ weights generally increased with height. Height, body weight, and BMI showed positive correlations with all organs, whereas age was negatively correlated with brain weight and positively correlated with heart weight. In conclusion, organ weights are associated with anthropometric characteristics and cause of death. The findings may provide a more standardized reference framework for routine forensic practice.

Background/Objectives: To evaluate whether semi-automatic and automatic CT-based liver segmentation methods can provide clinically acceptable volumetric agreement compared with manual segmentation while improving processing efficiency in routine practice. Methods: CT images from 86 individuals were retrospectively analyzed. Liver volumes were calculated using manual segmentation, RVX Semi-Automatic, RVX Deep Learning, and TotalSegmentator. Differences among methods were assessed using repeated-measures ANOVA. Agreement with manual segmentation was evaluated using a Bland–Altman analysis, while the Dice Similarity Coefficient (DICE) and Hausdorff Distance (HD) quantified spatial overlap and boundary deviation, respectively. Processing times were recorded. Results: Mean liver volumes were 1503.9 ± 356.0 cm³ (manual), 1512.6 ± 373.6 cm³ (RVX Semi-Automatic), 1549.8 ± 367.9 cm³ (RVX Deep Learning), and 1518.3 ± 365.8 cm³ (TotalSegmentator). RVX Deep Learning produced significantly higher volumes compared with manual segmentation (p < 0.001), whereas RVX Semi-Automatic and TotalSegmentator showed no significant differences (p > 0.05). DICE values were 0.911 ± 0.032, 0.946 ± 0.018, and 0.938 ± 0.021 for RVX Semi-Automatic, RVX Deep Learning, and TotalSegmentator, respectively. HD values were highest for the deep learning-based method. Processing times were shortest for RVX Deep Learning and longest for manual segmentation. Conclusions: Semi-automatic and automatic liver segmentation methods substantially reduce processing time while maintaining clinically acceptable volumetric agreement. Among the evaluated approaches, TotalSegmentator showed the closest agreement with manual segmentation, supporting its use in routine CT-based liver volumetry. Deep learning-based segmentation, although faster, tended to overestimate volume, potentially limiting its use in applications requiring high volumetric precision.

Background/Objectives: The cranial base, especially the posterior cranial fossa, has openings with population-specific morphometry. This study aimed to assess the morphometric characteristics of the major posterior cranial fossa openings (foramen magnum, jugular foramen, internal acoustic opening) in the Turkish population and evaluate their utility for sex estimation. It also aimed to provide population-specific reference values for forensic anthropology and cranial base surgery. Methods: This prospective study included 304 adult skulls (151 female, 153 male) obtained from forensic autopsy cases, all of which had preserved anatomical integrity. Structures in the posterior cranial fossa were exposed following a standardized dissection protocol. A total of 18 morphometric parameters were measured using a digital caliper. Inter-sex comparisons were performed, and the diagnostic performance of the parameters for sex differentiation was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: All morphometric parameters and inter-foraminal distances were significantly larger in male individuals compared to females (p < 0.001). Similarly, ellipticity indices were higher in males than in females (all p < 0.001). ROC analysis revealed that right internal acoustic opening transverse diameter (RIAO-T), left and right jugular foramen transverse diameters (RJF-T and LJF-T) parameters possess exceptionally high discriminatory power, yielding accuracies greater than 99%. Conclusions: Components of the posterior cranial fossa exhibit marked sexual dimorphism in the Turkish population. These morphometric data provide valuable anatomical references for forensic identification, aid in preserving neurovascular structures, and support safe surgical planning in cranial base procedures.

Sex and stature estimation are critical components in determining the biological profile in forensic anthropology. This study aimed to estimate sex and stature using machine learning (ML) algorithms based on the morphometric data of the triticeal cartilage (TrC) obtained from autopsied cases. A prospective examination of the TrC was conducted on 137 autopsied cases (72 male, 65 female), aged between 18 and 90 years, at the Tokat Forensic Medicine Institution. A total of 209 TrC samples, located on the right and left sides of the neck, were measured for length, width, depth, and weight. Additionally, the cases were categorized into three groups based on stature (< 164 cm, 164–176 cm, and > 176 cm) for further analysis. These measurements were used as input features in ML models to predict sex and stature. As a result of the ML input of the obtained measurements, the highest accuracy rate of 97% was obtained with the Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) algorithm for sex estimation. The accuracy rates of other algorithms ranged between 91% and 96%. Regarding stature, the highest accuracy rate was 90% with the Random Forest (RF) algorithm. The accuracy rates of the other algorithms were found to vary between 82% and 89%. SHAP (Shapley Additive Explanations) analysis applied to MLP and RF algorithms showed that the TrC length parameter had the highest effect on sex and stature prediction, respectively. The results of our study showed that TrC has high accuracy and precision in sex and stature prediction.

The jugular foramen (JF) is a passage formed at the skull base between the petrosal part of the temporal bone and the occipital bone. This passage is important because it contains neurovascular structures such as cranial nerves IX, X, and XI, internal jugular vein and ascending pharyngeal artery. In this passage, the dura mater forms dural septums that surround, protect and separate the structures. Dural septa can separate structures individually as well as by grouping them with different variations. In this case, a dural septum separating the cranial nerve IX from the cranial nerves X and XI was found in the JF during routine head dissection of a 74-year-old male cadaver. In surgical procedures to be planned in this region, it will be useful for clinicians to know the variations of the septum due to its interaction with other anatomical structures.

Background/Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the anatomical injuries resulting from cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the system level in forensic autopsy cases and to investigate their association with variables such as CPR duration, age, and sex. Methods: A total of 121 cases, who underwent manual CPR and died from non-traumatic causes between February 2024 and March 2025, were included in the study. In all cases, injuries were systematically assessed across the skeletal system (rib and sternum fractures), cardiac structures (epicardial, endocardial, and pericardial hemorrhages), respiratory system, abdominal organs (liver, spleen, diaphragm), and major vessels. Results: Rib fractures were detected in 67.7% of the cases and sternum fractures in 57.8%. Among those with sternum fractures, 93.3% also had concurrent rib fractures. Rib fractures were frequently bilateral, most commonly observed between the 3rd and 6th ribs, with a notable concentration at the bilateral 6th rib. Hemorrhages were identified in the epicardium (43.8%), endocardium (39.7%), and pericardium (45.5%) among cardiac structures. Injuries in the abdominal organs included the liver (37.2%), spleen (27.3%), and diaphragm (39.7%). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between CPR duration and the severity of cardiac and visceral injuries (p

This study used anthropometric and morphometric measurements in autopsy cases to investigate the relationship between abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness (ASATT) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The main starting point of the study was that obesity, especially morbid obesity, is an important risk factor for CVD. Our study was conducted at Tokat Forensic Medicine Institute on 65 cases in the CVD group and 65 cases in the control group, aged between 18 and 90 years. Anthropometric measurements were performed on the cases. Cardiac parameters and ASATT were measured with a digital caliper, while heart weight was weighed with a precision digital scale. The relationship between ASATT and coronary artery stenosis was analyzed in the CVD group. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to distinguish the CVD risk for both groups. Body mass index (BMI) and ASATT values ​​were higher in the CVD group than in the control group (p < 0.001). In addition, the neck-to-waist ratio was lower in the CVD group than in the control group (p = 0.001), while the waist-to-hip ratio was higher. Cardiac parameters were also higher in the CVD group than in the control group (p < 0.001). There was a correlation between ASATT and the degree of stenosis of the coronary arteries in the CVD group (p = 0.002). ROC analysis showed that ASATT was the strongest CVD risk predictor (AUC = 0.974). The increase in ASATT value is directly proportional to the severity of atherosclerosis and coronary artery stenosis. ASATT value can be used to evaluate CVD risk.

Aim: This study evaluates structural changes in the normalized volume ratios of the motor and sensory cortices in Parkinson’s patients and compares these changes with healthy individuals to assess the disease's impact on brain structure. Material and Method: The study included 55 Parkinson’s patients (14 females, 41 males) and 28 control subjects (7 females, 21 males). The volumes of the precentral gyrus, paracentral lobulus, and postcentral gyrus were calculated using the BrainSuite automated segmentation software. Regional gray matter volumes were normalized by dividing them by the intracranial volume, and these normalized values were used for comparisons. Volumetric analyses were conducted on the precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, and paracentral lobulus to assess their morphological changes associated with Parkinson's disease. Results: Results: In the left hemisphere, the normalized gray matter volume ratios of the postcentral gyrus were found to be lower in Parkinson’s patients (0.82%±0.09) compared to the control group (0.88%±0.09) (p

Purpose This study aims to determine the presence and morphology of triticeal cartilage (TrC) through autopsy cases and to examine its relationship with age, gender, and height, thus contributing to clinical practices and forensic perspective. Materials and methods Our study was conducted on a total of 84 autopsy cases between the ages of 20–90 years who came to Tokat Forensic Medicine Institute. The laryngeal region was palpated to determine whether TrC was present. The dimensions of the TrC and the length of the upper horn of thyroid cartilage (UHThC) were measured with precise digital calipers, and its weight was measured with an accurate digital scale. Results The presence of TrC was identified in 56% of the autopsy cases examined. The prevalence of TrC was higher in males (61.9%) than in females (23.1%). It was determined to be bilateral in 45% of the cases and unilateral in 11%. TrCs had a cylindrical shape in 68.2%, an oval shape in 25.8%, and a pyramidal shape in 5.8%. The average weight of TrC was 67.93 ± 33.91 mg on the right side and 72.67 ± 32.23 mg on the left. As the individual’s height increased, the weight of TrC increased (p < 0.001). Additionally, there was a strong positive correlation between the lengths of TrC and UHThC and the individual’s height (p < 0.001). Conclusion TrC may be confused with UHThC fractures. Therefore, we believe that knowledge of the presence and morphology of TrC will contribute to clinical approaches and forensic cases, especially in relation to the neck region.