Virtual autopsy using imaging: bridging radiologic and forensic sciences. A review of the Virtopsy and similar projects.
The transdisciplinary research project Virtopsy is dedicated to implementing modern imaging techniques into forensic medicine and pathology in order to augment current examination techniques or even to offer alternative methods. Our project relies on three pillars: three-dimensional (3D) surface scanning for the documentation of body surfaces, and both multislice computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to visualise the internal body. Three-dimensional surface scanning has delivered remarkable results in the past in the 3D documentation of patterned injuries and of objects of forensic interest as well as whole crime scenes. Imaging of the interior of corpses is performed using MSCT and/or MRI. MRI, in addition, is also well suited to the examination of surviving victims of assault, especially choking, and helps visualise internal injuries not seen at external examination of the victim. Apart from the accuracy and three-dimensionality that conventional documentations lack, these techniques allow for the re-examination of the corpse and the crime scene even decades later, after burial of the corpse and liberation of the crime scene. We believe that this virtual, non-invasive or minimally invasive approach will improve forensic medicine in the near future.
Bolliger
Stephan A
SA
Centre for Forensic Imaging and Virtopsy, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Buehlstrasse 20, 3012 Bern, Switzerland. stephan.bolliger@irm.unibe.ch
Thali
Michael J
MJ
Ross
Steffen
S
Buck
Ursula
U
Naether
Silvio
S
Vock
Peter
P
D001344:Autopsy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014584:User-Computer Interface
Magn Reson Imaging. 2004 Oct;22(8):1131-8
15528000
J Forensic Sci. 2003 Nov;48(6):1336-42
14640282
AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2006 Jul;187(1):209-15
16794178
Magn Reson Imaging. 1990;8(3):303-8
2366642
Radiographics. 2006 Sep-Oct;26(5):1305-33
16973767
Forensic Sci Int. 2007 Jul 20;170(1):20-8
16997523
Magn Reson Q. 1993 Mar;9(1):1-30
8512830
IEEE Trans Vis Comput Graph. 2006 Sep-Oct;12(5):869-76
17080811
J Forensic Sci. 2002 Sep;47(5):1041-5
12353542
Forensic Sci Int. 2007 Mar 2;166(2-3):199-203
16814505
J Forensic Sci. 2003 Mar;48(2):386-403
12665000
J Forensic Sci. 2006 Sep;51(5):1134-7
17018094
J Forensic Sci. 2005 Sep;50(5):1175-86
16225226
Forensic Sci Int. 2005 Apr 20;149(1):11-23
15734105
Forensic Sci Int. 2005 Jul 16;151(2-3):157-63
15939147
J Forensic Sci. 2004 Jul;49(4):799-806
15317198
J Magn Reson Imaging. 2001 Feb;13(2):277-87
11169835
Z Rechtsmed. 1977 Nov 18;80(3):227-46
602451
Radiology. 2006 Aug;240(2):522-8
16801370
J Forensic Sci. 2004 Nov;49(6):1339-42
15568710
Forensic Sci Int. 2003 Dec 17;138(1-3):8-16
14642714
BMJ. 1998 Nov 21;317(7170):1450
9822409
Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 1996 Sep;17(3):217-24
8870872
J Forensic Sci. 2003 Nov;48(6):1356-65
14640285
JAMA. 1998 Oct 14;280(14):1273-4
9786381
J Forensic Sci. 2006 Jan;51(1):113-9
16423234
AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1997 Jan;168(1):41-6
8976917
Lancet. 1996 Oct 26;348(9035):1139-41
8888168
Forensic Sci Int. 2003 Aug 12;135(2):115-21
12927412
J Forensic Sci. 2005 Mar;50(2):428-42
15813556
AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2006 Nov;187(5):W515-23
17056884
Radiologe. 1999 Mar;39(3):203-12
10218213
J Magn Reson Imaging. 2005 Oct;22(4):501-10
16142698
NMR Biomed. 2005 May;18(3):163-72
15578674
BMJ. 2002 Jun 15;324(7351):1423-4
12065265
J Forensic Sci. 2007 Jul;52(4):960-4
17553090
Histopathology. 2003 May;42(5):424-30
12713618