Post-mortem Computed Tomography (PMCT) Radiological Findings and Assessment in Advanced Decomposed Bodies

Overview

Journal Radiol Med

Specialty Radiology

Date 2019 Jun 30

PMID 31254219

Citations 6

Authors

Gaia Cartocci

Alessandro Santurro

Margherita Neri

Fulvio Zaccagna

Carlo Catalano

Raffaele La Russa

Emanuela Turillazzi

Valeria Panebianco

Paola Frati

Vittorio Fineschi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the study is to report radiological findings and features in advanced decomposed bodies obtained by post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) with autopsy correlation.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective descriptive multicentric study included 41 forensic cases examined between May 2013 and November 2016. All the bodies were PMCT-scanned prior to autopsy, and internal putrefactive state was determined using the radiological alteration index (RAI) by a radiologist with expertise in forensic radiology and a forensic pathologist trained in forensic imaging. After PMCT scans, grade of external putrefaction (GEP) was assigned during the external examination and the complete autopsy was performed by forensic pathologists.

Results: The PMCT images evaluation revealed that the RAI index was > 61 in all bodies, corresponding to a moderate-massive presence of putrefactive gas. The gas grade was > II in correspondence of the major vessels, heart cavities, liver parenchyma, vertebra L3 and subcutaneous pectoral tissues, and varied from I to III in correspondence of the kidney. Cadaveric external examination revealed the presence of advanced transformative phenomena, with a GEP3 and GEP4 in most of the cases, with body swelling, eyes and tongue protrusion, body fluids expulsion and fat liquefaction.

Conclusion: Radiological imaging by PMCT as an adjunct to autopsy in advanced decomposed bodies represents a useful tool in detecting post-mortem gas, even in very small amounts. A correct interpretation process of the PMCT data is essential to avoid images pitfalls, due to natural decomposition that can be mistaken for pathologic processes.

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