title: The use of μCT technology to identify skull fracture in a case involving blunt force trauma.
abstract: A 40-year-old man was admitted to hospital with a scalp wound but died 22 days later after unsuccessful treatment. Initial assessment of the cranial fragments removed during surgery revealed fine fracture lines on the endocranial surface, and a dark arcuate line on the ectocranial surface. To investigate the extent of the fractures a μCT scan of the fragments was taken, examined in 3D, and compared to plain radiographs. Some fractures were found to extend through the full thickness of the skull. This case presents a novel application of μCT technology to forensic radiology.
authors.affiliation: Imaging Laboratory, Department of Archaeology & Anthropology, University of Bristol, 43 Woodland Road, Bristol, Avon BS8 1UU, UK. kate.robson-brown@bristol.ac.uk
authors.forename: K Robson
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Silver
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Musgrave
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003399:Craniotomy; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D016489:Head Injuries, Closed / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000601:surgery; D022125:Lacerations / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy; D010781:Photography; D012535:Scalp / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014754:Violence