Research advances in forensic diatom testing

Zhou, Yuanyuan; Cao, Yiqi; Huang, Jiao; Deng, Kaifei; Ma, Kaijun; Zhang, Tianye; Chen, Liqin; Zhang, Ji; Huang, Ping

doi:10.1080/20961790.2020.1718901

Cited by 38 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…association between diatoms and medicine pertains to the forensic sciences as a tool for the often difficult diagnosis of drowning. 51 In conclusion, this case shows a previously unreported finding of a subcutaneous silica granuloma elicited by diatom frustules. The course of the patient's condition behaved with the typical sequence of a silica granuloma, but the clinical data did not completely explain the presence such unique material.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 49%

“…Although diatoms have fascinated microscopists for almost two centuries, 50 morphologic renderings of diatoms in anatomic pathology literature are almost nonexistent and their notion remains unfamiliar even for surgical pathologists and dermatopathologists, physicians who use microscopes on a daily basis. Potentially, the closest association between diatoms and medicine pertains to the forensic sciences as a tool for the often difficult diagnosis of drowning 51 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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It's elemental! Siliceous diatom frustules producing sarcoid‐like granulomas in the subcutis

Morales-Neira¹

2021

J Cutan Pathol

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Silica granulomas have been described on the skin and are rare; however, this is the first report of a sarcoid‐like granulomatous reaction because of siliceous diatom frustules in the subcutis, making this an unprecedented case. A 41‐year‐old female presented with a subcutaneous nodule on the right forearm clinically suggestive of cyst, foreign body, or lipoma. Excisional biopsy revealed subcutis with a sarcoid‐like granulomatous reaction in a background of fibrosis, containing abundant semitransparent, exquisitely geometric particles, mildly refringent under polarized light, highlighted by phase contrast microscopy; special stains were negative for microorganisms. Definitive characterization of the peculiar fragments was accomplished by confocal laser microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, revealing them as diatom frustules made of silicon dioxide (SiO2) or silica. Diatoms are unicellular algae, their skeletons (frustules) made of silica have collected on the bottom of rivers, lakes, and oceans for thousands or millions of years and form what we know as diatomite or diatomaceous earth, which is widely used in different industries and easily available in the market. The mechanism whereby diatom frustules gained access to the patient's subcutis is enigmatic.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 49%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

It's elemental! Siliceous diatom frustules producing sarcoid‐like granulomas in the subcutis

Morales-Neira¹

2021

J Cutan Pathol

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“…As diatom tests are not always conclusive in drowning diagnosis, other tests should also be used in conjunction with diatom tests. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection for green algae and cyanobacteria can serve as an auxiliary for drowning diagnosis, as they can be positive in drowning cases where diatom testing was negative [ 10 ]. New methods in diatom testing are increasingly being developed worldwide.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…New methods in diatom testing are increasingly being developed worldwide. The microwave digestion-vacuum-filtration-automated scanning electron microscopy (MD-VF-Auto SEM) method and the addition of deep learning will make diatom testing even more effective in drowning diagnosis [ 10 ]. These methods could increase the reliability of diatom tests and prevent false-positive results; hence they should be implemented in Pakistan as well.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Meanwhile, some authors pointed out that it is not impossible for diatoms to enter other organs from the intestine, which could give false positives and obscure the actual cause of death [ 9 ]. Moreover, false positives could also be obtained as a result of contamination [ 10 ]. Thus, a body recovered from water doesn’t necessarily imply that the death was due to drowning alone.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Diatom-Positive Cadaver: Drowning or Homicide?

Khurshid¹,

Shah²,

Khurshid³

et al. 2021

Cureus

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Medico-legal investigations should be performed on all unnatural (homicide, suicide, or accident), unexpected, and suspicious deaths to evaluate the possibility of homicide and ascertain the exact cause of death. However, in some scenarios, burial takes place before an autopsy can be conducted. In such cases, exhumation is performed, which involves excavating the remains of previously buried or cremated individuals for medico-legal investigations. Although the diatom test is a very useful microbiological approach in concluding death by drowning, its reliability remains controversial. Our study presents the case of a cadaver that was exhumed so that medico-legal investigations could be performed to ascertain the exact cause of death. The cadaver was recovered from water but buried before an autopsy could be performed. Upon exhumation, the greater cornu of hyoid bone was fractured with dislocation of the maxilla and mandible. The femur, sternum and clavicle were sent for diatom testing. The diatoms came out positive in the bones; however, the water sample from the gutter didn't test positive for diatoms. Thus, due to the diatom-negative status of water, diatoms from bones can't be compared with suspected water samples. Since diatoms in bones can arise as a result of contamination too, death cannot be concluded by drowning. Manual strangulation led to the fracture of the hyoid bone. Asphyxia due to throttling was declared the cause of death. Due to the unreliability of the diatom test in certain cases, other tests should be performed in auxiliary to the diatom test to conclude death by drowning.

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