title: Post-mortem changes of the middle ear: multislice computed tomography study.
abstract: Six dry skulls were studied by multislice computed tomography (MSCT). They had not previously been prepared, and were natural skeletonized remains. All had been found in the soil. Examination focused on the temporal bones and the ear structures. In all cases, either disruption of the ossicular chain or absence of some ossicular bones were noted. The authors concluded that the fragile ossicles were disrupted in the post-mortem state, and were not indicative of ante-mortem pathology. These observations illustrate the ability of MSCT to visualize taphonomic changes. To further illustrate these findings, we present the results of MSCT performed on an exhumed body. The left ossicular bones were missing and the right ossicular chain was disrupted. With the development of forensic radiology, structures as tiny as the ossicles can be examined. However, the radiologist who performs post-mortem imaging must be familiar with taphonomic changes to avoid interpretation as ante-mortem or peri-mortem traumatic injuries. This could potentially have considerable judicial impact, especially in the study of exhumed bodies.
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine Légale, Hôpital de Rangueil, 1 avenue du Professeur Jean Poulhès, TSA 50032, 31059 Toulouse Cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dedouit
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Loubes-Lacroix
authors.forename: Rémi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Costagliola
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guilbeau-Frugier
authors.forename: Danièle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alengrin
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Otal
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Telmon
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Joffre
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rougé
mesh_terms: D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D049249:Exhumation; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*