title: Pulmonary thromboembolism on unenhanced postmortem computed tomography: Feasibility and findings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of diagnosing fatal pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) with unenhanced postmortem computed tomography (PMCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve cases with autopsy confirmed PTE and matched controls (n=19) were retrospectively examined for PTE signs on PMCT. The following variables were evaluated: edema of the lower extremities (areal and Hounsfield Unit measurements) and observer dependent patterns of the morphology of the sedimentation in the pulmonary arteries and trunk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median absolute difference between the areal measurements of the right and left lower leg and thigh and the attenuation of the popliteal adipose tissue did not differ significantly between the groups. In contrast, the categorical assessment of soft tissue edema in the lower extremities was significantly different. A statistically significant difference could also be found in the shape of the vascular content within the pulmonary trunk and arteries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PTE may be assessed on unenhanced PMCT using diagnostic clues such as a distinct pattern of the pulmonary artery content and the presence of perivascular edema in the lower extremities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: garyfalia.ampanozi@irm.uzh.ch.
authors.forename: Garyfalia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ampanozi
authors.affiliation: Horten Centre, University of Zurich, Pestalozzistrasse 24, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Held
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Institute of Diagnostic, Interventional and Pediatric Radiology, University Hospital Bern, Freiburgstrasse, 3010 Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Thomas D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Ruder
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Steffen G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Wolf
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schweitzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Juergen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fornaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Franckenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Thali
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Patricia M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Flach
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003933:Diagnosis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Autopsy; Deep venous thrombosis; Postmortem CT; Pulmonary thromboembolism; Virtopsy