Into the decomposed body—forensic digital autopsy using multislice-computed tomography

It is impossible to obtain a representative anatomical documentation of an entire body using classical X-ray methods, they subsume three-dimensional bodies into a two-dimensional level. We used the novel multislice-computed tomography (MSCT) technique in order to evaluate a case of homicide with put...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Forensic science international 2003-07, Vol.134 (2), p.109-114
Main Authors: Thali, M.J., Yen, K., Schweitzer, W., Vock, P., Ozdoba, C., Dirnhofer, R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Autopsy - methods
Biological and medical sciences
Computed tomography
Decomposed body
Digital autopsy
Forensic medicine
Forensic Medicine - methods
Forensic radiology
Forensic sciences
Gases
Homicide
Humans
Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Imaging, Three-Dimensional
Medical sciences
Postmortem Changes
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Skull Fractures - pathology
Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods
Virtopsy
Virtual autopsy
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:It is impossible to obtain a representative anatomical documentation of an entire body using classical X-ray methods, they subsume three-dimensional bodies into a two-dimensional level. We used the novel multislice-computed tomography (MSCT) technique in order to evaluate a case of homicide with putrefaction of the corpse before performing a classical forensic autopsy. This non-invasive method showed gaseous distension of the decomposing organs and tissues in detail as well as a complex fracture of the calvarium. MSCT also proved useful in screening for foreign matter in decomposing bodies, and full-body scanning took only a few minutes. In conclusion, we believe postmortem MSCT imaging is an excellent vizualisation tool with great potential for forensic documentation and evaluation of decomposed bodies.
ISSN:0379-0738
1872-6283
DOI:10.1016/S0379-0738(03)00137-3