title: Forensic imaging for causal investigation of death.
abstract: A 63-year-old man was found in the street after overrun by a car. Postmortem CT revealed multiple bone fractures, but surprisingly all without any relevant hemorrhage which would have been expected under such circumstances. A round radiopaque formation was found in the duodenum, which was reminiscent of ingested tablets. The toxicological analysis revealed high concentrations of zopiclone and alcohol. By combining radiologic and forensic results, zopiclone and alcohol intoxication were concluded as the cause of death, followed by a postmortem overrun accident.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology (E010), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg 69120, Germany.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Simons
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69115, Germany.
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sassenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology (E010), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg 69120, Germany.
authors.forename: Heinz-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Schlemmer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69115, Germany.
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yen
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000175:diagnosis*; D053961:Azabicyclo Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*; D004386:Duodenum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D053961:Azabicyclo Compounds; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010879:Piperazines; C515050:zopiclone
keywords: Computed tomography; Forensic imaging; Forensic reconstruction; Pre-autopsy CT; Virtopsy