{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]],"date-time":"2026-09-28T03:57:36Z","timestamp":1790567856511,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":11,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,12]],"date-time":"2026-04-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1775952000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,12]],"date-time":"2026-04-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1775952000000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Journal of Forensic Sciences"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,7]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Fetal autopsy remains essential for determining the cause of intrauterine death and for supporting clinical, genetic, and forensic evaluations. However, in cases of advanced maceration, autolysis severely compromises tissue integrity, often preventing adequate identification of anatomical structures and limiting the diagnostic and medico\u2010legal value of traditional autopsy. To address these challenges, we developed and applied an innovative underwater dissection technique designed to improve visualization, separation, and recovery of fragile organs in macerated fetuses. Seventeen cases of intrauterine fetal death between 16 and 36\u2009weeks were examined using a standardized protocol performed entirely in a water\u2010filled basin. Hydrostatic buoyancy gently distended viscera, separated tissue planes, and reduced structural collapse, enabling controlled evisceration and minimizing tearing of friable organs. Thoraco\u2010abdominal dissection, removal of visceral blocks, and cranial extraction were performed under water, followed by fixation and histologic analysis. The technique consistently allowed recognition, retrieval, and documentation of all major organs, including those typically lost or unidentifiable in macerated conditions\u2014such as the thymus, gonads, adrenal glands, and gastrointestinal tract. Improved visibility facilitated accurate photographic documentation and preserved organ relationships despite autolysis. Histology remained feasible in every case and yielded clinically and forensically relevant information regarding gestational age, congenital anomalies, infectious processes, and timing of intrauterine retention. This underwater dissection method is simple, reproducible, and it substantially enhances the diagnostic yield of fetal autopsy in macerated cases. By enabling better preservation and documentation of anatomical structures, it strengthens forensic interpretation and contributes to more reliable determinations of cause and timing of death.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1111\/1556-4029.70336","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,13]],"date-time":"2026-04-13T05:07:25Z","timestamp":1776056845000},"page":"1821-1828","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Advancing fetal autopsy in cases of maceration: Underwater dissection technique and its forensic relevance"],"prefix":"10.1111","volume":"71","author":[{"given":"Francesca","family":"Buffelli","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Pathology Unit IRCCS\u2010Istituto Giannina Gaslini  Genoa Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sharon","family":"Duzioni","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI) University of Genova  Genoa Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Valerio Gaetano","family":"Vellone","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Pathology Unit IRCCS\u2010Istituto Giannina Gaslini  Genoa Italy"},{"name":"Section of Pathology, Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC) University of Genova  Genoa Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6616-0347","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alessandro","family":"Bonsignore","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Medico Legal Unit IRCCS\u2010Istituto Giannina Gaslini  Genoa Italy"},{"name":"Section of Legal and Forensic Medicine, Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL) University of Genova  Genoa Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ezio","family":"Fulcheri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Pathology Unit IRCCS\u2010Istituto Giannina Gaslini  Genoa Italy"},{"name":"Section of Pathology, Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC) University of Genova  Genoa Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_10_2_1","volume-title":"Manuale delle autopsie perinatali [Manual of perinatal autopsies]","author":"Vald\u00e9s\u2010Dapena M","year":"1988"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_3_1","volume-title":"Anatomia patologica: Le basi [Pathological anatomy: fundamentals]","author":"Ruco L","year":"2007"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s00330\u2010023\u201009847\u2010y"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1925362118797725"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/1556\u20104029.70113"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_7_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1055\/s\u20100039\u20101681013"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7860\/JCDR\/2014\/9226.4920"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_9_1","volume-title":"L'autopsia finalizzata al riscontro diagnostico. Manuale di anatomia patologica per tecnici di laboratorio biomedico [Diagnostic autopsy: A pathological anatomy manual for biomedical laboratory technicians]","author":"Fulcheri E","year":"2019"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_10_1","volume-title":"Medicina legale in materia penale [Forensic medicine in criminal law]","author":"Franchini A","year":"1977"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_11_1","volume-title":"Atlas of human prenatal histology","author":"Nishimura H","year":"1983"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_12_1","volume-title":"Manuale di Anatomia Patologica Funzionale [Manual of functional pathological anatomy]","author":"Fulcheri E","year":"2022"}],"container-title":["Journal of Forensic Sciences"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1111\/1556-4029.70336","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1111\/1556-4029.70336","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1111\/1556-4029.70336","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]],"date-time":"2026-09-28T03:51:47Z","timestamp":1790567507000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1111\/1556-4029.70336"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,12]]},"references-count":11,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,7]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1111\/1556-4029.70336"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/1556-4029.70336","archive":["Portico"],"relation":{},"ISSN":["0022-1198","1556-4029"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0022-1198","type":"print"},{"value":"1556-4029","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,12]]},"assertion":[{"value":"2025-09-28","order":0,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2026-04-02","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2026-04-12","order":3,"name":"published","label":"Published","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}}]}}