title: Does imaging technology overcome problems of conventional postmortem examination? A trial of computed tomography imaging for postmortem examination.
abstract: We used a mobile computed tomography (CT) unit for postmortem examinations of deceased subjects to see how many mistakes on cause-of-death diagnoses were made in Japan. In 5 of 20 cases, the cause of death determined by CT was different from the diagnosis made by superficial postmortem examination. In one case, the superficial examination suggested no trauma, whereas a subdural hematoma was found on cranial CT images. We concluded that postmortem examinations in Japan were not effective when screening for crimes or accidents. Using a mobile CT scanner in postmortem examination may be a viable method of screening for causes of deaths, although it cannot be used as a substitute for autopsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan. moo600@faculty.chiba-u.jp
authors.forename: Mutsumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayakawa
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Hisako
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Motani
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yajima
authors.forename: Yayoi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Hirotaro
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iwase
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008952:Mobile Health Units; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed