Histopathological Changes in the Auditory Pathway in Cases of Fatal Head Injury

Abstract

In five patients who died 24 hours, 3 days, 8 days, a month, and 4 months, respectively, after head trauma, the brain and the brain stem were histopathologically examined with special reference to the auditory pathway and the cortex. In one case who survived for 3 days, hemorrhage in the brain stem affected the inferior colliculus, lateral lemniscus, and superior olivary nucleus. In another case who survived for 4 months, multiple softening foci scattered in the brain stem affected also the inferior colliculus, lateral lemniscus, and superior olivary nucleus. In remaining three cases, hemorrhage in varying degrees was observed in the brain stem and the brain. From these findings it was assumed that in case of head trauma, hearing impairment may possibly be caused by retrolabyrinthine lesion.