Journal Article

Targeted post-mortem computed tomography cardiac angiography: proof of concept

Robinson, Claire E., Rutty, Guy N., Raj, Vimal, Saunders, Sarah L., Morgan, Bruno

2011

Overview

With the increasing use and availability of multi-detector computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in autopsy practice, there has been an international push towards the development of the so-called near virtual autopsy. However, currently, a significant obstacle to the consideration as to whether or not near virtual autopsies could one day replace the conventional invasive autopsy is the failure of post-mortem imaging to yield detailed information concerning the coronary arteries. To date, a cost-effective, practical solution to allow high throughput imaging has not been presented within the forensic literature. We present a proof of concept paper describing a simple, quick, cost-effective, manual, targeted in situ post-mortem cardiac angiography method using a minimally invasive approach, to be used with multi-detector computed tomography for high throughput cadaveric imaging which can be used in permanent or temporary mortuaries.

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Aneurysms / Angiography / Autopsies / Autopsy / Autopsy - economics / Autopsy - methods / Cadaver / Cadavers / Carotid arteries / Contrast Media / Coronary Angiography - economics / Coronary Angiography - instrumentation / Coronary vessels / Cost analysis / Cost-Benefit Analysis / Diatrizoate Meglumine / Forensic Medicine / Forensic pathology / Humans / Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - methods / Invasive / Magnetic resonance imaging / Medical imaging / Medical Law / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Multidetector Computed Tomography - economics / Multidetector Computed Tomography - instrumentation / Postmortem Changes / Sensitivity and Specificity / Sensors / Technical Note / Tomography / User-Computer Interface / Veins & arteries