title: Virtopsy: postmortem imaging of the human heart in situ using MSCT and MRI.
abstract: The rapid further development of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) induced the idea to use these techniques for postmortem documentation of forensic findings. Until now, only a few institutes of forensic medicine have acquired experience in postmortem cross-sectional imaging. Protocols, image interpretation and visualization have to be adapted to the postmortem conditions. Especially, postmortem alterations, such as putrefaction and livores, different temperature of the corpse and the loss of the circulation are a challenge for the imaging process and interpretation. Advantages of postmortem imaging are the higher exposure and resolution available in CT when there is no concern for biologic effects of ionizing radiation, and the lack of cardiac motion artifacts during scanning. CT and MRI may become useful tools for postmortem documentation in forensic medicine. In Bern, 80 human corpses underwent postmortem imaging by CT and MRI prior to traditional autopsy until the month of August 2003. Here, we describe the imaging appearance of postmortem alterations--internal livores, putrefaction, postmortem clotting--and distinguish them from the forensic findings of the heart, such as calcification, endocarditis, myocardial infarction, myocardial scarring, injury and other morphological alterations.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, IRM-Buehlstrasse 20, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland. christian.jackowski@irm.unibe.ch
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jackowski
authors.forename: Wolf
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schweitzer
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thali
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Emin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aghayev
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sonnenschein
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vock
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dirnhofer
mesh_terms: D001344:Autopsy / Q000379:methods*; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D005740:Gases / Q000378:metabolism; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005740:Gases