Characterization of bruises using ultrasonography for potential application in diagnosis of child abuse

Mild subcutaneous hemorrhage on the thigh of a 24-year-old female at postmortem. (a) Macroscopic findings (black arrow: subcutaneous hemorrhages); (b) microscopic findings (HE staining; black arrow: hemorrhages were found to be scattered along the fibrous partition); and (c) ultrasonographic image (white arrow: thickening of the fibrous partition (hyperechoic) with an isoechoic area).

Mild subcutaneous hemorrhage on the lower leg of a 29-year-old female at postmortem. (a) Macroscopic findings (black arrow: subcutaneous hemorrhages); (b) microscopic findings (hematoxylin & eosin (HE) staining; black arrow: hemorrhages were found to be scattered along the fibrous partition); and (c) ultrasonographic image (white arrow: thickening of the fibrous partition (hyperechoic).

Moderate subcutaneous hemorrhage on the thigh of a 22-year-old male at postmortem. (a) Macroscopic findings (white arrow: subcutaneous hemorrhages); (b) microscopic findings (HE staining; black arrow: hemorrhages were found to be scattered along the fibrous partition); and (c) ultrasonographic image (white arrow: an isoechoic or hyperechoic area scattered around the fibrous partition).

(a) Bruise on the left buttock of a healthy 7-year-old boy resulting from a fall down stairs. Comparison of ultrasound imaging of the bruise and control skin (including the Mongolian spot): (b) an isoechoic area (surrounded by white arrows) of the subcutaneous hemorrhage in the left buttock; and (c) control (including the Mongolian spot): a slight linear hyperechoic pattern of the fibrous partition (white dotted line arrows) in the right buttock.

Time-dependent changes using relative thickness changes (%) of the depth from the skin surface to a subcutaneous hemorrhage in an ultrasonograph after suffering a bruise.

Time-dependent changes using relative thickness changes (%) of a subcutaneous hemorrhage in an ultrasonograph after a bruise was incurred.