title: Blood aspiration as a vital sign detected by postmortem computed tomography imaging.
abstract: Blood aspiration is a significant forensic finding. In this study, we examined the value of postmortem computed tomography (CT) imaging in evaluating findings of blood aspiration. We selected 37 cases with autopsy evidence of blood in the lungs and/or in the airways previously submitted to total-body CT scanning. The CT-images were retrospectively analyzed. In one case with pulmonary blood aspiration, biopsy specimens were obtained under CT guide for histological examination. In six cases, CT detected pulmonary abnormalities suggestive of blood aspiration, not mentioned in the autopsy reports. CT reconstructions provided additional data about the distribution and extent of aspiration. In one needle-biopsied case, the pulmonary specimens showed blood in the alveoli. We suggest the use of CT imaging as a tool complementary to traditional techniques in cases of blood aspiration to avoid misdiagnosis, to guide the investigation of lung tissue, and to allow for more evidence-based inferences on the cause of death.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Buehlstrasse 20, 3012 Bern, Switzerland. laura.filograna@rm.unicatt.it
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Filograna
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bolliger
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Germerott
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Preiss
authors.forename: Patricia M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Flach
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thali
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D001769:Blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053120:Respiratory Aspiration / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D051598:Whole Body Imaging; D055815:Young Adult