title: 3D C-arm as an alternative modality to CT in postmortem imaging: technical feasibility.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study was to demonstrate the image quality of the new device using human cadavers, extending the horizon of available imaging modalities in forensic medicine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six human cadavers were examined, revealing C-arm data sets of the head, neck thorax, abdomen and pelvis. High-resolution mode was performed with 500 fluoroscopy shots during a 190 degrees orbital movement with a constant tube voltage of 100 kV and a current of 4.6 mA. Based on these data sets subsequent three-dimensional reconstructions were generated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reconstructed data sets revealed high-resolution images of all skeletal structures in a near-CT quality. The same image quality was available in all reconstruction planes. Artefacts caused by restorative dental materials are less accentuated in CBCT data sets. The system configuration was not powerful enough to generate sufficient images of intracranial structures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After the here-demonstrated encouraging preliminary results, the forensic indications that would be suitable for imaging with a 3D C-arm have to be defined. Promising seems the visualization local limited region of interest as the cervical spine or the facial skeleton.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pohlenz
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blessmann
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Oesterhelweg
authors.forename: Christan R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Habermann
authors.forename: Philipp G C
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Begemann
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schmidgunst
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blake
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schulze
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Püschel
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schmelzle
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heiland
mesh_terms: D001344:Autopsy / Q000379:methods*; D002102:Cadaver; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D009333:Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010388:Pelvis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging