Citation

Quatrehomme G, Guinier D, Suply B, Alunni V, Pedech A. Am. J. Forensic Med. Pathol. 2013; 34(2): 90-94.

Affiliation

From the *Laboratoire de Médecine Légale et d'Anthropologie médico-légale, Faculté de Médecine, Université; de Nice Sophia Antipolis, Nice; and †Unité de Médecine Légale, Centre Hospitalier Bretagne Sud, Lorient, France.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/PAF.0b013e31828873b1

PMID

23574871

Abstract

The authors present 2 new cases of so-called spontaneous human combustion. The first observations of isolated body combustion, to use a more appropriate term, date back to the 17th century. Its main features are that some parts of the body (usually the middle third) are badly burnt to the point of being reduced to ashes, contrasting with other well-preserved body parts and the intact or nearly intact immediate vicinity of the body. Usually, combustion occurs postmortem, and a source of heat is found near the body. High concentrations of blood alcohol are frequently found but not mandatory. In all cases, ruling out homicide is a major concern.

Language: en