Patient’s relative gives a history of tattoo, however it was not found during autopsy. What should be dissected to find it:
**Core Concept**
When a tattoo is not visible on the skin's surface, it can still be identified through histopathological examination of the skin. The tattoo ink particles are deposited into the dermis, the deeper layer of the skin, and can be found in skin sections examined under a microscope.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The correct approach is to dissect the skin and examine it histologically. The tattoo ink particles will be found in the dermal layer of the skin, which is beneath the epidermis. This is because the tattoo ink is injected into the dermis during the tattooing process, causing an inflammatory response that leads to the deposition of ink particles in this layer. Histological examination of the skin can help identify the tattoo ink particles, even if they are not visible on the skin's surface.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
* **Option A:** Dissecting the muscle tissue would not be helpful in identifying a tattoo, as the tattoo ink is deposited in the dermal layer of the skin, not in the muscle tissue.
* **Option B:** Examining the bone tissue would also not be helpful, as the tattoo ink is not deposited in the bone.
* **Option C:** Dissecting the subcutaneous fat tissue would not be helpful, as the tattoo ink is primarily deposited in the dermal layer of the skin.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
When a tattoo is not visible on the skin's surface, it can still be identified through histopathological examination of the skin, specifically in the dermal layer.
**Correct Answer:** C.