Image-guided virtual autopsy findings of gunshot victims performed with multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and subsequent correlation between radiology and autopsy findings

Thali, Michael J.; Yen, Kathrin; Vock, Peter; Ozdoba, Christoph; Kneubuehl, Beat P.; Sonnenschein, Martin; Dirnhofer, Richard

doi:10.1016/s0379-0738(03)00225-1

Cited by 172 publications

(106 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Studies report that CT is a key tool in clinical diagnosis and can also be a support for identification in forensic investigations [21]. Also, CT scans are often used before conventional autopsy [22,23] on decomposed bodies [24] or even sometimes on human remains allowing identification and trace back to the cause of death [25]. What is also accepted by the authors is that computed tomography post-mortem contributes reliably to human identification by its precision and objectivity [26].…”

Section: Radiological Recognition Techniquesmentioning

confidence: 99%

An analysis of cranial radiography in post-mortem recognition

Imen¹,

Farid²,

Khaoula³

et al. 2018

Radiol Diagn Imaging

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Aim: Often post-mortem radiography as a judicial procedure is intended to know the causes of death. X-rays are systematic on putrefied, charred or severely altered bodies when identifying a body. Nowadays other radiological techniques are used in post mortem recognition. In the case of collective disasters (war, air accident, or industrial ...etc.) the task is easy when comparing ante-mortem radiographs. In the absence of these, vestibular craniography and positional morpho-metric analysis is necessary. Specific characters of a skull are taken into account in this study. It refers us to his race as the first identification. Method:In this study, a database is based on the data that specifying each ethnic group (Gallo-Romans, Japanese, Ainu, Amerindians, Melanesians, African Blacks, Australians, Tasmanians ...). Each group is distinguished by specific characters (the shape of the structures and for their position in the axes, their structure and their reciprocal articulation). From measurements made on radiography skull and artificial neural network analysis, it will be possible to attribute this to the ethnic group to which it belongs. Conclusion:In this study, we consider these characters (distances, circumferences, curve, volumes, and angles) are considered as input variables of the network. These variables are related to an output variable that refers to the individual race. This can be a valuable tool for identification in forensic medicine.

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Section: Radiological Recognition Techniquesmentioning

confidence: 99%

An analysis of cranial radiography in post-mortem recognition

Imen¹,

Farid²,

Khaoula³

et al. 2018

Radiol Diagn Imaging

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Detection of foreign bodies X-rays are routinely employed in order to detect foreign bodies in corpses, be it projectiles [16], knife blades [17] or medical implants, etc. (Fig.…”

Section: Detection Of Osseous Lesionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Virtual autopsy using imaging: bridging radiologic and forensic sciences. A review of the Virtopsy and similar projects

et al. 2007

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The transdisciplinary research project Virtopsy is dedicated to implementing modern imaging techniques into forensic medicine and pathology in order to augment current examination techniques or even to offer alternative methods. Our project relies on three pillars: threedimensional (3D) surface scanning for the documentation of body surfaces, and both multislice computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to visualise the internal body. Three-dimensional surface scanning has delivered remarkable results in the past in the 3D documentation of patterned injuries and of objects of forensic interest as well as whole crime scenes. Imaging of the interior of corpses is performed using MSCT and/or MRI. MRI, in addition, is also well suited to the examination of surviving victims of assault, especially choking, and helps visualise internal injuries not seen at external examination of the victim. Apart from the accuracy and threedimensionality that conventional documentations lack, these techniques allow for the re-examination of the corpse and the crime scene even decades later, after burial of the corpse and liberation of the crime scene. We believe that this virtual, non-invasive or minimally invasive approach will improve forensic medicine in the near future.

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“…After the turn of the century, the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Bern started a collaboration with the institutes of Diagnostic Radiology and Neuroradiology of the University of Bern. The ambitious aim of this newly founded research project called Virtopsy w was to detect forensic findings in corpses using CT and MRI and to compare these with those obtained by autopsy [4][5][6][7][8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Imaging and virtual autopsy: looking back and forward

Bolliger

Thali

2015

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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In order to create a three-dimensional (3D) documentation of findings which can be reassessed if necessary by other experts, the research project ‘Virtopsy®’ was launched in the late 1990s. This project combined autopsy results with forensic imaging in the form of computed tomography, magnetic resonance tomography and 3D surface scanning. The success of this project eventually succeeded in convincing the courts in Switzerland to accept these novel methods as evidence. As opposition towards autopsies has grown over the last decades, Virtopsy also strives to find and elaborate additional methods which can answer the main forensic questions without autopsy. These methods comprise post-mortem angiography for illustration of the vascular bed and image-guided tissue and fluid sampling for histological, toxicological and microbiological examinations. Based on the promising results, post-mortem imaging, especially with 3D surface scanning, has meanwhile also been applied to living victims of assault, who have suffered patterned injuries due to bites, blows with objects, etc. In our opinion, forensic imaging is an objective method which offers the possibility for a reassessment of the findings by other experts, even after burial or cremation of the corpse, or healing of the injuries in living victims, thus leading to a greater security in court.

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Image-guided virtual autopsy findings of gunshot victims performed with multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and subsequent correlation between radiology and autopsy findings

Cited by 172 publications

References 16 publications

An analysis of cranial radiography in post-mortem recognition

An analysis of cranial radiography in post-mortem recognition

Virtual autopsy using imaging: bridging radiologic and forensic sciences. A review of the Virtopsy and similar projects

Imaging and virtual autopsy: looking back and forward

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