title: Freezing effect on brain density in postmortem CT.
abstract: Two 60-year-old males were found at their homes whose bodies had deteriorated due to putrefaction. To prevent worm invasion and minimize deterioration, dry ice was used prior to the autopsy investigation. Prior to autopsy, postmortem CT demonstrated a decreased density in brain parenchyma at the dry-iced side, and autopsy revealed deteriorated brain parenchyma with frozen effect (presented like sherbet). Moreover, the deteriorated cerebral parenchyma maintained their structure and they were evaluated by cutting. When lower CT density presents in postmortem CT, the freezing effect may need to be considered and the physician should evaluate the cadaver's postmortem condition to prevent misdiagnoses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, S1 W17 Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan.
authors.forename: Miyu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, S1 W17 Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan. Electronic address: hyodoh@sapmed.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hyodoh
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, S1 W17 Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan.
authors.forename: Masumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rokukawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, S1 W17 Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan.
authors.forename: Ayumi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanazawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, S1 W17 Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan.
authors.forename: Rina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, S1 W17 Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan.
authors.forename: Junya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, S1 W17 Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan.
authors.forename: Shunichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okazaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, S1 W17 Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan.
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mizuo
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, S1 W17 Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D001344:Autopsy; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002423:Cause of Death; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D004367:Dry Ice; D049429:Forensic Pathology / Q000379:methods*; D005615:Freezing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000473:pathology; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D051598:Whole Body Imaging / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D004367:Dry Ice
keywords: Forensic radiology; Freezing effect; Low density; Postmortem CT; Postmortem change