Imaging in forensic radiology: an illustrated guide for postmortem computed tomography technique and protocols.
Forensic radiology is a new subspecialty that has arisen worldwide in the field of forensic medicine. Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) and, to a lesser extent, PMCT angiography (PMCTA), are established imaging methods that have replaced dated conventional X-ray images in morgues. However, these methods have not been standardized for postmortem imaging. Therefore, this article outlines the main approach for a recommended standard protocol for postmortem cross-sectional imaging that focuses on unenhanced PMCT and PMCTA. This review should facilitate the implementation of a high-quality protocol that enables standardized reporting in morgues, associated hospitals or private practices that perform forensic scans to provide the same quality that clinical scans provide in court.
Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland, patricia.flach@irm.uzh.ch.
Patricia M
PM
Flach
Dominic
D
Gascho
Wolf
W
Schweitzer
Thomas D
TD
Ruder
Nicole
N
Berger
Steffen G
SG
Ross
Michael J
MJ
Thali
Garyfalia
G
Ampanozi
D001344:Autopsy; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002423:Cause of Death; D005553:Forensic Dentistry / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011786:Quality Control; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D051598:Whole Body Imaging / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards