UNLABELLED: Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging allows minimally invasive autopsy, especially when consent is declined for traditional autopsy. Estimation of individual visceral organ weights is an important component of traditional autopsy. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether a semi-automated can be used for non-invasive internal organ weight measurement using post-mortem MR imaging in fetuses, newborns and children. METHODS: Phase 1: In vitro scanning of 36 animal organs (heart, liver, kidneys) was performed to check the accuracy of volume reconstruction methodology. Real volumes were measured by water displacement method. Phase 2: Sixty-five whole body post-mortem MR scans were performed in fetuses (n=30), newborns (n=5) and children (n=30) at 1.5T using a 3D TSE T2-weighted sequence. These data were analysed offline using the image processing software Mimics 11.0. RESULTS: Phase 1: Mean difference (S.D.) between estimated and actual volumes were -0.3 (1.5)ml for kidney, -0.7 (1.3)ml for heart, -1.7 (3.6)ml for liver in animal experiments. Phase 2: In fetuses, newborns and children mean differences between estimated and actual weights (S.D.) were -0.6 (4.9)g for liver, -5.1 (1.2)g for spleen, -0.3 (0.6)g for adrenals, 0.4 (1.6)g for thymus, 0.9 (2.5)g for heart, -0.7 (2.4)g for kidneys and 2.7 (14)g for lungs. Excellent co-correlation was noted for estimated and actual weights (r(2)=0.99, p<0.001). Accuracy was lower when fetuses were less than 20 weeks or less than 300g. CONCLUSION: Rapid, accurate and reproducible estimation of solid internal organ weights is feasible using the semi-automated 3D volume reconstruction method.
UNLABELLED: Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging allows minimally invasive autopsy, especially when consent is declined for traditional autopsy. Estimation of individual visceral organ weights is an important component of traditional autopsy. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether a semi-automated can be used for non-invasive internal organ weight measurement using post-mortem MR imaging in fetuses, newborns and children. METHODS: Phase 1: In vitro scanning of 36 animal organs (heart, liver, kidneys) was performed to check the accuracy of volume reconstruction methodology. Real volumes were measured by water displacement method. Phase 2: Sixty-five whole body post-mortem MR scans were performed in fetuses (n=30), newborns (n=5) and children (n=30) at 1.5T using a 3D TSE T2-weighted sequence. These data were analysed offline using the image processing software Mimics 11.0. RESULTS: Phase 1: Mean difference (S.D.) between estimated and actual volumes were -0.3 (1.5)ml for kidney, -0.7 (1.3)ml for heart, -1.7 (3.6)ml for liver in animal experiments. Phase 2: In fetuses, newborns and children mean differences between estimated and actual weights (S.D.) were -0.6 (4.9)g for liver, -5.1 (1.2)g for spleen, -0.3 (0.6)g for adrenals, 0.4 (1.6)g for thymus, 0.9 (2.5)g for heart, -0.7 (2.4)g for kidneys and 2.7 (14)g for lungs. Excellent co-correlation was noted for estimated and actual weights (r(2)=0.99, p<0.001). Accuracy was lower when fetuses were less than 20 weeks or less than 300g. CONCLUSION: Rapid, accurate and reproducible estimation of solid internal organ weights is feasible using the semi-automated 3D volume reconstruction method.
Authors: Owen J Arthurs; Rick R van Rijn; Elspeth H Whitby; Karl Johnson; Elka Miller; Martin Stenzel; Andrew Watt; Ajay Taranath; David H Perry Journal: Pediatr Radiol Date: 2016-07-13
Authors: Meghan K Shirley; Owen J Arthurs; Kiran K Seunarine; Tim J Cole; Simon Eaton; Jane E Williams; Chris A Clark; Jonathan C K Wells Journal: Eur J Clin Nutr Date: 2018-11-07 Impact factor: 4.016