title: CT based volume measurement and estimation in cases of pericardial effusion.
abstract: The measurement of fluid volumes in cases of pericardial effusion is a necessary procedure during autopsy. With the increased use of virtual autopsy methods in forensics, the need for a quick volume measurement method on computed tomography (CT) data arises, especially since methods such as CT angiography can potentially alter the fluid content in the pericardium. We retrospectively selected 15 cases with hemopericardium, which underwent post-mortem imaging and autopsy. Based on CT data, the pericardial blood volume was estimated using segmentation techniques and downsampling of CT datasets. Additionally, a variety of measures (distances, areas and 3D approximations of the effusion) were examined to find a quick and easy way of estimating the effusion volume. Segmentation of CT images as shown in the present study is a feasible method to measure the pericardial fluid amount accurately. Downsampling of a dataset significantly increases the speed of segmentation without losing too much accuracy. Some of the other methods examined might be used to quickly estimate the severity of the effusion volumes.
authors.affiliation: Virtopsy, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, Zurich, Switzerland. lars.ebert@virtopsy.com
authors.forename: Lars C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Ebert
authors.forename: Garyfalia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ampanozi
authors.forename: Thomas D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Ruder
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hatch
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Thali
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Germerott
mesh_terms: D001344:Autopsy / Q000379:methods; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D055641:Mathematical Concepts; D008875:Middle Aged; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014283:Triiodobenzoic Acids
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D014283:Triiodobenzoic Acids; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C053571:iopentol