Estimation of the time of death by measuring the variation of lateral cerebral ventricle volume and cerebrospinal fluid radiodensity using postmortem computed tomography

Abstract

Using postmortem CT (PMCT), changes in the volume of the lateral cerebral ventricles (LCVs) and modifications of the radiodensity of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) have been examined to identify a possible relationship between these changes and the time of death. Subsequent periodical CT scans termed “sequential scans” for ten corpses at known time of death were obtained, and a 3D segmentation of the entire LCV was carried out to measure its volume and radiodensity over time from ~ 5.5- h up to 273-h postmortem. A linear decrease of the LCV volume for all the cases was observed in the investigated time range, together with an overall logarithmic increase of radiodensity. Although a larger sampling should be performed to improve the result reliability, our finding suggests that the postmortem variation of CSF radiodensity can be a potentially useful tool in determining postmortem interval, a finding that is worthy of further investigation.

Post mortem computed tomography meets radiomics: a case series on fractal analysis of post mortem changes in the brain

“…The appearance of gas in the various structures of the brain, and the loss of differentiation between white and gray matter are generally among the first post-mortem alterations impacting the brain [ 39 – 41 ]. Concerning our experiment, it demonstrates a temporal evolution of the brain morphology which derives from a progressive loss of the ventricular volume [ 42 , 43 ] and the folded structure of the gray matter. Although these aspects can be qualitatively observed, in forensic sciences, there is a demanding need to establish new quantitative parameters.…”

Handheld hyperspectral imaging as a tool for the post-mortem interval estimation of human skeletal remains

“…However, they all have significant flaws in reliability and accuracy [ 20 , 21 ] and are an ongoing challenge in forensic medicine. At present, the following methods have been proposed in addition to the external physical appearance: histopathological surveys [ [22] , [23] , [24] ], reactions with mineral acids, reactions with benzidine, nitrogen loss [ 25 ], molecular biology [ [26] , [27] , [28] , [29] , [30] , [31] ], high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry [ 32 ], metabolomics [ 33 ], UV–Vis methods [ [34] , [35] , [36] , [37] , [38] ], radioisotope measurements [ [39] , [40] , [41] , [42] ], luminol chemiluminescent reactions [ 40 , [43] , [44] , [45] , [46] , [47] ], X-ray diffraction [ [48] , [49] , [50] ], spectroscopic technology [ 37 , [50] , [51] , [52] , [53] , [54] , [55] , [56] , [57] , [58] , [59] , [60] , [61] , [62] , [63] ], post-mortem computed tomography (CT) [ 64 ], micro-CT [ 18 , 50 ], visible and thermal 3D imaging [ 65 ], and entomological methods (succession model, carrion insect development) [ 66 ]. All available information from these techniques can be considered the gold standard, but despite the many different methods, the forensic estimation of PMI is still challenging [ 53 ].…”

Application of Micro-Computed Tomography for the Estimation of the Post-Mortem Interval of Human Skeletal Remains

“…Various techniques and methods have been employed to estimate the PMI with the highest accuracy. Methods include examination of the external physical appearance; histopathological surveys [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]; reaction with a mineral acid, reaction with benzidine, nitrogen loss [ 9 ]; molecular biology [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]; metabolomics [ 16 ]; high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry [ 17 ]; UV-Vis spectroscopic methods [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]; radioisotope measurements [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]; luminol chemiluminescent reaction [ 24 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]; X-ray diffraction [ 32 , 33 , 34 ]; spectroscopic technology [ 21 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 ]; postmortem computed tomography (CT) [ 48 ], micro-CT [ 2 , 34 ]; visible and thermal 3D imaging [ 49 ]; and entomological methods (succession model, carrion insect development) ...…”