Post-mortem computed tomography coaxial cutting needle biopsy to facilitate the detection of bacterioplankton using PCR probes as a diagnostic indicator for drowning.
We report for the first time the use of coaxial cutting needle biopsy, guided by post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT), to sample internal body tissues for bacterioplankton PCR analysis to investigate drowning. This technical report describes the biopsy technique, the comparison of the needle biopsy and the invasive autopsy sampling results, as well as the PMCT and autopsy findings. By using this new biopsy sampling approach for bacterioplankton PCR, we have developed on previous papers describing the minimally invasive PMCT approach for the diagnosis of drowning. When such a system is used, the operator must take all precautions to avoid contamination of the core biopsy samples due to the sensitivity of PCR-based analytic systems.
East Midlands Forensic Pathology Unit, University of Leicester, Robert Kilpatrick Building, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK. gnr3@le.ac.uk.
Guy N
GN
Rutty
East Midlands Forensic Pathology Unit, University of Leicester, Robert Kilpatrick Building, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK.
Christopher
C
Johnson
East Midlands Forensic Pathology Unit, University of Leicester, Robert Kilpatrick Building, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK.
Jasmin
J
Amoroso
Imaging Department, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK.
Claire
C
Robinson
Clinical Microbiology, Empath Pathology Services, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, LE1 5WW, UK.
Carina J
CJ
Bradley
Radiology Department, University of Leicester, Robert Kilpatrick Building, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK.
Bruno
B
Morgan
D000333:Aeromonas / Q000235:genetics*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004332:Drowning / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D013154:Spleen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D051598:Whole Body Imaging
D004269:DNA, Bacterial
Bacterioplankton; Coaxial cutting needle biopsy; Drowning; Forensic; PMCT; Post-mortem computed tomography; Real-time PCR