M Di Paolo1, A Maiese1, M dell'Aquila2, C Filomena1, S Turco1, C Giaconi3, E Turillazzi1. 1. Section of Legal Medicine- University of Pisa, S. Chiara Hospital, Pisa. 2. Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. 3. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Pisa.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Post Mortem Computed Tomography (PMCT) is being increasingly implemented in forensic field and could be an adjuvant to classic autopsies. In this study we evaluated the feasibility of complementation of conventional autopsy in trauma victims with PMCT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 21 subjects, who had sustained various types of blunt high-energy trauma, were selected from the casuistry of the Section of Legal Medicine at University of Pisa: before autopsy, a PMCT examination (Toshiba Aquilion 16 CT scanner) was performed, and after the acquisition of the raw images, MPR and VR reconstructions were performed with dedicated software. RESULTS: PMCT is more sensitive than conventional autopsy in detecting skeletal injuries, whilst autopsy constitutes the method of choice for the detection of thoracic and abdominal visceral injuries. CONCLUSIONS: PMCT should be considered a useful tool in addition to conventional autopsy in evaluating trauma victims: it detects further bone fractures in body parts difficult to investigate during autopsy (i.e. posterior regions), facilitating the pathologist in the reconstruction of events and in determining the cause of death.
BACKGROUND: Post Mortem Computed Tomography (PMCT) is being increasingly implemented in forensic field and could be an adjuvant to classic autopsies. In this study we evaluated the feasibility of complementation of conventional autopsy in trauma victims with PMCT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 21 subjects, who had sustained various types of blunt high-energy trauma, were selected from the casuistry of the Section of Legal Medicine at University of Pisa: before autopsy, a PMCT examination (Toshiba Aquilion 16 CT scanner) was performed, and after the acquisition of the raw images, MPR and VR reconstructions were performed with dedicated software. RESULTS: PMCT is more sensitive than conventional autopsy in detecting skeletal injuries, whilst autopsy constitutes the method of choice for the detection of thoracic and abdominal visceral injuries. CONCLUSIONS: PMCT should be considered a useful tool in addition to conventional autopsy in evaluating trauma victims: it detects further bone fractures in body parts difficult to investigate during autopsy (i.e. posterior regions), facilitating the pathologist in the reconstruction of events and in determining the cause of death.
Authors: Claudia Giaconi; Alice Chiara Manetti; Emanuele Neri; Marco Di Paolo; Sara Turco; Marzia Coppola; David Forni; Damiano Marra; Raffaele La Russa; Michele Karaboue; Aniello Maiese; Luigi Papi; Emanuela Turillazzi Journal: Radiol Med Date: 2022-01-20 Impact factor: 3.469