title: The use of post-mortem computed tomography in the investigation of intentional neonatal upper airway obstruction: an illustrated case.
abstract: We present a single case report illustrating the diagnostic role of multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) in the investigation of suspicious child death where mechanical asphyxia is suspected. The case illustrates how radiological findings that may not be observable on conventional plain X-ray were identified by post-mortem MSCT. We illustrate how MSCT can illustrate the position of a foreign body within the upper airway of a neonate without the need for in situ dissection and how the combination of post-mortem MSCT with skeletal survey can provide enhanced diagnostic information in the investigation of not only whether the child was liveborn but also the consideration as to whether or not death has been caused by upper airway obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Pathology Unit, University of Leicester, Robert Kilpatrick Building, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK. gnr3@le.ac.uk
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Rutty
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Jeffery
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Raj
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007830:Larynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D011247:Pregnancy; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*