Question

Relatives of a patient told during postmortem examination that the person had a tattoo - which was now invisible. How to identify?

• A. Examine the Lymph node
• B. Spectrophotometer
• C. Ordinary light
• D. X-ray

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

In forensic investigations, tattoos can play a crucial role in identifying a deceased person. Sometimes tattoos become invisible due to decomposition or skin changes. In such cases, examining the lymph nodes can reveal the presence of tattoo ink pigments. Here's the explanation:

• Examine the Lymph node: When tattoo ink is applied, it penetrates the dermis layer of the skin and can be transported by macrophages to the lymph nodes. This makes lymph nodes a potential repository for tattoo pigments, even if the tattoos become invisible on the skin.
• Spectrophotometer: Though it analyzes colors and pigments, a spectrophotometer would not be effective in determining pigments that have migrated internally to nodes.
• Ordinary light: Ineffective if the tattoo has become invisible due to skin changes or decomposition, as it only enhances contrast rather than revealing pigments beneath the skin.
• X-ray: Generally used for detecting dense materials like bones or metal; ineffective for viewing organic pigments in tattoos.

Thus, examining lymph nodes is the logical approach to identify invisible tattoos posthumously.