title: Postmortem-computed tomography and postmortem-computed tomography-angiography: a focused update.
abstract: The use of multidetector CT (MDCT) represents a reality routinely used in several forensic institutes, for the numerous advantages that this diagnostic tool can provide; costs are becoming increasingly lower; data acquisition is always faster and once acquired may be revalued at any time. However, there are also some diagnostic limitations, for example, the visualization of the vascular system or a limited soft tissue contrast. In order to overcome these limitations, in recent years, contrast medium has been introduced in postmortem cases, with the development of several techniques of PMCT angiography (PMCTA) and standardized protocols to make them easily reproducible. The aim of this review is to highlight the advantages and pitfalls of PMCT and PMCTA in forensic investigation, taking into consideration the broad spectrum of applications both for natural and unnatural deaths and the numerous methods currently used. Secondly, in the light of the considerable progress in this field and the attempt to develop standardized protocols of PMCTA, the authors aim to evaluate the diagnostic value of PMCTA in comparison both to PMCT and conventional autopsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00185, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco Paolo
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Busardò
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Frati
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guglielmi
authors.forename: Giampaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grilli
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rotondo
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Panebianco
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fineschi
mesh_terms: D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D001344:Autopsy / Q000379:methods; D002423:Cause of Death; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*