Tardieu Spots
Definition
Minute petechial haemorrhages on the surface of visceral organs, pleura, and conjunctivae, produced by venous obstruction and raised intrathoracic pressure in asphyxia. Not specific to asphyxia but characteristic in pattern distribution.
- Appearance
- Minute petechial haemorrhages
- Locations
- Visceral organ surfaces, pleura, conjunctivae
- Mechanism
- Venous obstruction, raised intrathoracic pressure
- Specificity
- Not specific to asphyxia alone
Common questions
If Tardieu spots are not specific to asphyxia, why are they still noted at autopsy?+
Their diagnostic value comes from pattern and distribution rather than presence alone. Dense petechiae concentrated on the conjunctivae and facial skin above a ligature or constriction point, combined with other asphyxial signs, support an asphyxial mechanism, whereas scattered petechiae can arise from resuscitation, coagulopathy, or other unrelated causes.
Can Tardieu spots be absent in a genuine asphyxial death?+
Yes. Their absence does not rule out asphyxia, since the extent of petechial haemorrhage depends on factors such as how quickly death occurred and the degree of venous congestion achieved, so the finding is corroborative rather than a required marker.
Related terms
- Complete Hanging
- Hanging in which the body hangs freely with no supporting surface contact. The entire body weight acts through the ligature on the...
- Hyoid Bone Fracture
- Fracture of the U-shaped floating hyoid bone at the tongue base; uncommon in hanging (under 10%), more common in strangulation, especially in...
- Incomplete Hanging
- Hanging in which part of the body (feet, knees, buttocks) remains in contact with a surface. Biomechanically equivalent to complete hanging because...
- Ligature Groove (Hanging)
- The pressure mark left by a ligature on the neck in hanging: pale, parchment-like, oblique, ascending, open at the nape of the...
- Ligature Groove (Strangulation)
- The mark left by a ligature applied with extrinsic force in strangulation: horizontal, complete (encircling the neck), below or at the thyroid...
- NAME
- National Association of Medical Examiners (US); the professional body that publishes standards for medico-legal autopsy, manner-of-death certification, and forensic pathology training.
- Salivary Drool Track
- A dried streak of saliva running from the corner of the mouth downward and toward the suspension point, seen in hanging and...