Thibault Willaume1, Audrey Farrugia2, Estelle-Marie Kieffer3, Jeanne Charton4, Annie Geraut5, Laurent Berthelon6, Guillaume Bierry7, Jean-Sébastien Raul8. 1. Imaging Department, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France. Electronic address: thibault.willaume@chru-strasbourg.fr. 2. Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France. Electronic address: audrey.farrugia@unistra.fr. 3. Imaging Department, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France. Electronic address: estelle-marie.kieffer@chru-strasbourg.fr. 4. Imaging Department, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France. Electronic address: jeanne.charton@chru-strasbourg.fr. 5. Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France. Electronic address: ageraut@unistra.fr. 6. Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France. Electronic address: laurent.berthelon@chru-strasbourg.fr. 7. Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France. Electronic address: guillaume.bierry@chru-strasbourg.fr. 8. Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France. Electronic address: js.raul@unistra.fr.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Nowadays, post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) has become an integral part of Forensic practice. The purpose of the study was to determine PMCT impact on diagnosis of the cause of death within the context of the external examination of the body, when autopsy has, at first, not been requested. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of 145 cases for which unenhanced PMCT was performed in addition to the external examination of the body from January 2014 to July 2015 at the Institute of Forensic medicine in Strasbourg (France). We confronted final reports from forensic pathologist to the corresponding PMCT reports. Data were collected in a contingency table and the impact of PMCT on the final conclusions of the forensic pathologist was evaluated via a Chi2 test. RESULTS: PMCT results significantly impact the final conclusions of forensic pathologist (p<0,001). In some cases, PMCT permits etiological diagnosis by revealing a cause of death hidden from external examination (mainly natural death) or by supporting the clinical findings of the forensic pathologist. In other cases (traumatic death), PMCT enables fast and exhaustive lesion assessment. Lastly, there are situations where PMCT may be ineffective (intoxication, hanging or some natural deaths). CONCLUSION: Performing PMCT within the context of the external examination of the body when autopsy has, at first, not been requested could bring significant benefits in diagnosing the cause of death. The impact of PMCT varies depending on the circumstances of death.
OBJECTIVE: Nowadays, post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) has become an integral part of Forensic practice. The purpose of the study was to determine PMCT impact on diagnosis of the cause of death within the context of the external examination of the body, when autopsy has, at first, not been requested. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of 145 cases for which unenhanced PMCT was performed in addition to the external examination of the body from January 2014 to July 2015 at the Institute of Forensic medicine in Strasbourg (France). We confronted final reports from forensic pathologist to the corresponding PMCT reports. Data were collected in a contingency table and the impact of PMCT on the final conclusions of the forensic pathologist was evaluated via a Chi2 test. RESULTS: PMCT results significantly impact the final conclusions of forensic pathologist (p<0,001). In some cases, PMCT permits etiological diagnosis by revealing a cause of death hidden from external examination (mainly natural death) or by supporting the clinical findings of the forensic pathologist. In other cases (traumatic death), PMCT enables fast and exhaustive lesion assessment. Lastly, there are situations where PMCT may be ineffective (intoxication, hanging or some natural deaths). CONCLUSION: Performing PMCT within the context of the external examination of the body when autopsy has, at first, not been requested could bring significant benefits in diagnosing the cause of death. The impact of PMCT varies depending on the circumstances of death.