Non-traumatic ecchymoses: A literature review from a medico-legal perspective

Ecchymosis, as a general term, refers to discoloration of the skin due to the presence of extravasated blood into the dermis and/or subcutaneous tissue. However, it can occasionally be observed without any trauma, as a symptom of disease, a clinical condition, or even during the course of treating a disease. It is extremely important that these non-traumatic lesions are known and recognized and can be distinguished from traumatic ecchymoses by both clinicians and forensic scientists. This review of the literature includes detailed descriptions of non-traumatic periorbital ecchymosis, Slapped Cheek Syndrome, Cullen's Sign, Grey Turner's Sign, Stabler's Sign, Ransohoff Sign, Bryant's Sign, postsacral ecchymosis, perianal ecchymosis, Fox's Sign, other lower leg ecchymosis, and ecchymosis on various body regions. In this article, it is emphasized that failure to correctly identify these findings may subject practitioners to malpractice lawsuits, and failure to correctly identify findings by forensic experts may result in unjust legal judgments against people or loss of rights. It is also this review encourages accurate diagnosis of non-traumatic ecchymoses.