title: Current status of paediatric post-mortem imaging: an ESPR questionnaire-based survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of post-mortem imaging, including skeletal radiography, CT and MRI, is increasing, providing a minimally invasive alternative to conventional autopsy techniques. The development of clinical guidelines and national standards is being encouraged, particularly for cross-sectional techniques.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To outline the current practice of post-mortem imaging amongst members of the European Society of Paediatric Radiology (ESPR).
  
  
  METHODS
  We e-mailed an online questionnaire of current post-mortem service provisions to members of the ESPR in January 2013. The survey included direct questions about what services were offered, the population imaged, current techniques used, imaging protocols, reporting experience and intended future involvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-one percent (47/66) of centres from which surveys were returned reported performing some form of post-mortem imaging in children, of which 81 % perform radiographs, 51% CT and 38% MRI. Eighty-seven percent of the imaging is performed within the radiology or imaging departments, usually by radiographers (75%), and 89% is reported by radiologists, of which 64% is reported by paediatric radiologists. Overall, 72% of positive respondents have a standardised protocol for radiographs, but only 32% have such a protocol for CT and 27% for MRI. Sixty-one percent of respondents wrote that this is an important area that needs to be developed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, the majority of centres provide some post-mortem imaging service, most of which is performed within an imaging department and reported by a paediatric radiologist. However, the populations imaged as well as the details of the services offered are highly variable among institutions and lack standardisation. We have identified people who would be interested in taking this work forwards.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, WC1N 3JH, UK, owen.arthurs@gosh.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Owen J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Arthurs
authors.forename: Rick R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: van Rijn
authors.forename: Neil J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Sebire
mesh_terms: D001344:Autopsy / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008604:Mental Health Associations; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011871:Radiology / Q000592:standards*; D050497:Stillbirth / Q000453:epidemiology