title: Time-related course of pleural space fluid collection and pulmonary aeration on postmortem computed tomography (PMCT).
abstract: Postmortem CT (PMCT) is increasingly used in forensic practice, and knowledge and classification of typical postmortem imaging findings would facilitate the interpretation of PMCT. The goal of this study was to define the time-related course of postmortem chest findings. Twelve cadavers (eight male, four female, 27-81 [mean, 60.0]years) were examined twice by PMCT within an interval of time (4-164 h [mean, 30.8; median, 17.5]). The pleural-space-fluid volume, pulmonary parenchyma volume, decreased aerated lung volume (DLV), %DLV (=DLV/pulmonary parenchyma volume) and chest cavity volume were compared between the first and second PMCT examinations. To evaluate the volume change rate, the rate of increase in pleural space fluid volume (mL/h) and the DLV rate (mL/h) were plotted according to the postmortem period. On the second PMCT, the volume of pleural space fluid (p=0.0469) and %DLV (p=0.0161) were significantly increased. The increase rate of the pleural space fluid increased at approximately 30 h and the volume continued to increase until approximately 40 h after death. The rate of DLV constantly decreased in the early postmortem period. In conclusion, the pleural-space-fluid collection and the DLV increased over different time-related courses in the postmortem period.
authors: Department of Legal Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, S1 W17 Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan. Electronic address: hyodoh@sapmed.ac.jp.
authors: Hideki
authors: H
authors: Hyodoh
authors: Department of Legal Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, S1 W17 Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan.
authors: Jyunya
authors: J
authors: Shimizu
authors: Department of Legal Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, S1 W17 Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan.
authors: Satoshi
authors: S
authors: Watanabe
authors: Department of Legal Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, S1 W17 Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan.
authors: Shunichiro
authors: S
authors: Okazaki
authors: Department of Legal Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, S1 W17 Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan.
authors: Keisuke
authors: K
authors: Mizuo
authors: Department of Legal Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, S1 W17 Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan.
authors: Hiromasa
authors: H
authors: Inoue
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D035422:Pleural Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Forensic radiology; Hypostasis; Pleural effusion; Postmortem CT; Postmortem change