Many external injuries on the neck can often simulate ligature strangulation. This similarity could lead to mistakes or overestimation of these findings and consider them as violent deaths. Therefore, when the work of the forensic pathologist is to limit the external examination of body, the conclusions can be mistaken or wrong. In the present article four cases of apparent ligature strangulation are showed. All the autopsies were performed and completed with microscopical and toxicological examinations. During necropsic examination different causes of death, other than the initial suspected, were discobered.

        Key words: Artifactual injuries - Forensic Pathology - Ligature strangulation - Medicolegal Autopsy