title: Type II DeBakey dissection with complete aortic rupture visualized by unenhanced postmortem imaging.
abstract: We present postmortem computed tomography (pmCT) as well as postmortem magnetic resonance (pmMR) imaging findings in a case of type II DeBakey aortic dissection with a complete rupture of the ascending aorta compared to the findings obtained at forensic autopsy. PmCT only allowed a presumptive diagnosis of aortic dissection based on an anterior mediastinal enlargement. However, at pmMR the dissection including the aortic rupture was clearly visible. Visualization was realized in an unenhanced manner without the need for postmortem angiography.
authors.affiliation: Center for Forensic Imaging, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. nicole.schwendener@irm.unibe.ch
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schwendener
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mund
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jackowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology*; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000473:pathology*; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000473:pathology*; D054059:Coronary Occlusion / Q000473:pathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D049429:Forensic Pathology / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed