Table 2. Specific features of antemortem and postmortem burning.

Features	Antemortem	Postmortem
Toxicological analysis (4,7–11)	Lethal dose of CO-Hb >50%* *In case of severe CVD 10–30%	CO-Hb < 50%
Lividity (11)	Cherry-red	Bluish-purple
Soot, thermal burns of organs (4–7)	Soot in the respiratory tract Thermal burns in the airways	Absent
Heat-hematoma or epidural hematoma caused by trauma (4,15)	CO-Hb concentration in hematoma blood is similar to peripheral blood; PMCT: low density, crescent shaped, crossing the midline, detaching the venous sinus	CO-Hb is absent or less than peripheral blood; PMCT: dense, convex and lens shaped
Fractures (13,14)	May include deeper body areas Bilateral and symmetrical involvement Longitudinal trans-diploic fractures	Superficial areas Usually asymmetrical Perpendicular disruption to the bone surface
Burns (1–3)	Line of redness around the burn area; Blisters: red base, full of serous fluid; Histopathological examination: small areas of hemorrhages, PMN infiltration	No line of redness; Blisters (if present): pale, yellow without a red base, filled with air and clear fluid; Histopathological examination: no characteristic changes

CO-Hb – carboxyhemoglobin; CVD – cardiovascular disease; PMN – polymorphonuclear