title: Post-mortem CT and MR brain imaging of putrefied corpses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Putrefaction of the brain is a challenge to a forensic pathologist because it may lead to considerable organ alterations and restrict documenting reliable autopsy findings.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to present a new and systematic evaluation of possible benefits of post-mortem MR Neuroimaging (1.5 Tesla, sequences: T1w, T2w) in putrefied corpses in comparison to PMCT and autopsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A post-mortem MRI brain examination was conducted on 35 adult, putrefied corpses after performing a whole body CT scan prior to a forensic autopsy. Imaging data and autopsy findings were compared with regard to brain symmetry, gray and white matter junction, ventricular system, basal ganglia, cerebellum, brain stem, and possible pathological findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At autopsy, a reliable assessment of the anatomical brain structures was often restricted. MR imaging offered an assessment of the anatomical brain structures, even at advanced stages of putrefaction. In two cases, MR imaging revealed pathological findings that were detectable neither by CT scans nor at autopsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Post-mortem MR imaging of putrefied brains offers the possibility to assess brain morphology, even if the brain is liquefied. Post-mortem MR imaging of the brain should be considered if the assessment of a putrefied brain is crucial to the evaluation of a forensic autopsy case.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Buehlstrasse 20, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland. joelle.tschui@usb.ch.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tschui
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Buehlstrasse 20, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jackowski
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Buehlstrasse 20, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schwendener
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Buehlstrasse 20, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schyma
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Buehlstrasse 20, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Zech
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059906:Neuroimaging; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Brain; Forensic imaging; Post-mortem MRI; Post-mortem imaging; Putrefaction