title: Diffusion-weighted perinatal postmortem magnetic resonance imaging as a marker of postmortem interval.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate perinatal body organ apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values at postmortem magnetic resonance imaging (PMMR) in order to evaluate postmortem changes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Postmortem diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of the thorax and abdomen were performed with diffusion gradient values b = 0, 500, and 1000 s/mm(2) on 15 foetal and childhood cases (mean 33.3 ± 7.8 weeks gestation) compared to 44 live infants (mean age 75.5 ± 53.4 days). Mean ADC values were calculated from regions of interest (ROIs) for the lungs, liver, spleen and renal cortex, compared to normative live infantile body ADC values of similar gestational age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean ADC values were significantly lower in postmortem cases than in normal controls for liver (0.88 10(-3) mm(2)/s ± SD 0.39 vs. 1.13 ± 0.13; p < 0.05) and renal cortex (0.85 ± 0.26 vs. 1.19 ± 0.13; p < 0.05) but not spleen or muscle. Mean lung ADC values were significantly higher than normal controls (1.06 ± 0.18 vs. 0 ± 0; p < 0.001), and there was a significant correlation between postmortem interval and lung ADC (R(2) = 0.55).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lung PMMR ADC values are related to postmortem interval, making them a potential marker of time since death. Further research is needed to understand the organ-specific changes which occur in the postmortem period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • Liver and spleen PM ADC values were lower than controls. • Lung ADC changes correlate with PM interval. • These findings may be useful in medicolegal cases.
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: Gemma C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Carmichael
authors.forename: Rod
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Neil J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Sebire
mesh_terms: D001344:Autopsy; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000473:pathology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007672:Kidney Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology*; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology*; D008168:Lung / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013154:Spleen; D050497:Stillbirth