Identification And Classification of Tattoos In Autopsies; A Retrospective Study

Objective: Figures created under the skin using Indian ink or carbon are called tattoos. Each figure has different meanings, such as freedom and sexuality. In forensic medicine, tattoos are used for human identification. Tattoos can help determine the origin of death by providing information about i...

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Main Authors: Hatice Kübra Ata Öztürk, Kemalettin Acar, Ayse Kurtuluş Dereli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Galenos Publishing House 2025-01-01
Series:Gazi Medical Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://gazimedj.com/articles/identification-and-classification-of-tattoos-in-autopsies-a-retrospective-study/doi/gmj.2024.4136
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author Hatice Kübra Ata Öztürk
Kemalettin Acar
Ayse Kurtuluş Dereli
author_facet Hatice Kübra Ata Öztürk
Kemalettin Acar
Ayse Kurtuluş Dereli
author_sort Hatice Kübra Ata Öztürk
collection DOAJ
description Objective: Figures created under the skin using Indian ink or carbon are called tattoos. Each figure has different meanings, such as freedom and sexuality. In forensic medicine, tattoos are used for human identification. Tattoos can help determine the origin of death by providing information about individuals' lifestyles. Our study aims to analyze the profile of tattoos, define and classify tattoos, and emphasize their importance in forensic medicine. Additionally, we aimed to reveal whether there was a difference between the origins of death in our cases. Methods: Tattoos found in cases of natural death and suicide who underwent autopsy between 01/01/2020 and 31/07/2022 in Denizli, were evaluated retrospectively. Analysis was performed using the parameters of number, location, and type of tattoos. This study included 19 natural deaths and 35 suicides. There were 29 (82.9%) male, 6 (17.1%) females who committed suicide. In the natural deaths, there were 16 (84.2%) male, 3 (15.8%) were female. The mean age of suicide cases was 30.34±9.47, natural deaths was 43.84±10.7. Results: We did not find a significant difference in the number, type, and location of tattoos between suicides and natural deaths. The mean number of tattoos was higher in suicides than in natural deaths, but there was no statistically significant difference in the total number of tattoos between the two groups (p=0.647). Suicides tended to have a higher mean number of shape/geometric/illustrative tattoos, and animal/creature tattoos, compared to natural deaths. Conclusion: In our study, the tattoos were described in detail, analyzed according to the origin of death, and contributed to the literature on tattoo figures.
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spelling doaj-art-890b3f578fc645d98ef9f8cc3783dcf42025-01-13T11:29:18ZengGalenos Publishing HouseGazi Medical Journal2147-20922025-01-01361283710.12996/gmj.2024.4136Identification And Classification of Tattoos In Autopsies; A Retrospective StudyHatice Kübra Ata Öztürk0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4875-0826Kemalettin Acar1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0200-4764Ayse Kurtuluş Dereli2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0592-585XDepartment of Forensic Medicine Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine, Denizli, TürkiyeDepartment of Forensic Medicine Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine, Denizli, TürkiyeDepartment of Forensic Medicine Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine, Denizli, TürkiyeObjective: Figures created under the skin using Indian ink or carbon are called tattoos. Each figure has different meanings, such as freedom and sexuality. In forensic medicine, tattoos are used for human identification. Tattoos can help determine the origin of death by providing information about individuals' lifestyles. Our study aims to analyze the profile of tattoos, define and classify tattoos, and emphasize their importance in forensic medicine. Additionally, we aimed to reveal whether there was a difference between the origins of death in our cases. Methods: Tattoos found in cases of natural death and suicide who underwent autopsy between 01/01/2020 and 31/07/2022 in Denizli, were evaluated retrospectively. Analysis was performed using the parameters of number, location, and type of tattoos. This study included 19 natural deaths and 35 suicides. There were 29 (82.9%) male, 6 (17.1%) females who committed suicide. In the natural deaths, there were 16 (84.2%) male, 3 (15.8%) were female. The mean age of suicide cases was 30.34±9.47, natural deaths was 43.84±10.7. Results: We did not find a significant difference in the number, type, and location of tattoos between suicides and natural deaths. The mean number of tattoos was higher in suicides than in natural deaths, but there was no statistically significant difference in the total number of tattoos between the two groups (p=0.647). Suicides tended to have a higher mean number of shape/geometric/illustrative tattoos, and animal/creature tattoos, compared to natural deaths. Conclusion: In our study, the tattoos were described in detail, analyzed according to the origin of death, and contributed to the literature on tattoo figures.https://gazimedj.com/articles/identification-and-classification-of-tattoos-in-autopsies-a-retrospective-study/doi/gmj.2024.4136tattoosautopsysuicideforensic medicine
spellingShingle Hatice Kübra Ata Öztürk
Kemalettin Acar
Ayse Kurtuluş Dereli
Identification And Classification of Tattoos In Autopsies; A Retrospective Study
Gazi Medical Journal
tattoos
autopsy
suicide
forensic medicine
title Identification And Classification of Tattoos In Autopsies; A Retrospective Study
title_full Identification And Classification of Tattoos In Autopsies; A Retrospective Study
title_fullStr Identification And Classification of Tattoos In Autopsies; A Retrospective Study
title_full_unstemmed Identification And Classification of Tattoos In Autopsies; A Retrospective Study
title_short Identification And Classification of Tattoos In Autopsies; A Retrospective Study
title_sort identification and classification of tattoos in autopsies a retrospective study
topic tattoos
autopsy
suicide
forensic medicine
url https://gazimedj.com/articles/identification-and-classification-of-tattoos-in-autopsies-a-retrospective-study/doi/gmj.2024.4136
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AT aysekurtulusdereli identificationandclassificationoftattoosinautopsiesaretrospectivestudy