Forensic evidence from a 30-year study of non-thrombotic pulmonary embolism.

StudyInternational journal of legal medicine· Aug 2026

Forensic evidence from a 30-year study of non-thrombotic pulmonary embolism.

Stefano Tambuzzi, Guendalina Gentile, Michele Boracchi … Riccardo Zoia

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Pulmonology & Critical CareStudyQ1IF 3.1

Bone marrow embolism was the most common non-thrombotic pulmonary embolism subtype at autopsy

Forensic evidence from a 30-year study of non-thrombotic pulmonary embolism.

Stefano Tambuzzi … Riccardo Zoia

International journal of legal medicine · Aug 2026

Background

Despite their potential to cause sudden and unexpected death, comprehensive forensic studies on non-thrombotic pulmonary embolism remain limited.

Purpose

This study presents a 30-year retrospective forensic analysis (1993-2024) of autopsy cases performed at the Institute of Legal Medicine of Milan, aimed at identifying and characterizing deaths attributable to non-thrombotic pulmonary embolism.

Results

bone marrow was the leading non-thrombotic embolism type found at autopsy

Bone marrow embolism

37.5%

Septic embolism

25%

Fat embolism

21.8%

Amniotic fluid embolis

9.4%

More results

Non-thrombotic pulmonary embolism occurred predominantly in traumatic and iatrogenic settings and were frequently associated with surgical or invasive procedures.

These findings highlight the intrinsic diagnostic complexity of non-thrombotic pulmonary embolism and the risk of under recognition in the absence of systematic post-mortem investigation.

More results

In this context, a comprehensive forensic autopsy approach remains essential for the accurate identification and classification of these entities.

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Conclusion

Increased awareness of non-thrombotic pulmonary embolism, together with the integration of histopathological and ancillary analyses, may contribute to improving diagnostic accuracy and to a more reliable interpretation of sudden and unexpected deaths.