Usefulness of elastica-van Gieson stain for the pathomorphological diagnosis of a cutaneous electric mark--a fatal electrocution case during arc welding.

Identification of an electric mark on a body is required for a precise diagnosis of electrocution at the time of forensic autopsy. We applied Elastica-van Gieson (EVG) stain as a means of obtaining the pathomorphological diagnosis of a cutaneous electric mark in relation to a fatal electrocution case. Using EVG stain, the characteristic findings of electric marks, such as elongation of basal-cell nuclei and vacuolation of cells within the epidermis, were clearly observed, while in addition, disarrangement of elastic fibers in the connective tissues within the dermis was also demonstrated. EVG staining was considered to be useful in enabling pathomorphological observations of a cutaneous electric mark to be made.