Postmortem imaging of blunt chest trauma using CT and MRI: comparison with autopsy

Aghayev, Emin; Christe, Andreas; Sonnenschein, Martin; Yen, Kathrin; Jackowski, Christian; Thali, Michael J; Dirnhofer, Richard; Vock, Peter (2008). Postmortem imaging of blunt chest trauma using CT and MRI: comparison with autopsy. Journal of thoracic imaging, 23(1), pp. 20-7. Hagerstown, Md.: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 10.1097/RTI.0b013e31815c85d6

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OBJECTIVE: Postmortem examination of chest trauma is an important domain in forensic medicine, which is today performed using autopsy. Since the implementation of cross-sectional imaging methods in forensic medicine such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a number of advantages in comparison with autopsy have been described. Within the scope of validation of cross-sectional radiology in forensic medicine, the comparison of findings of postmortem imaging and autopsy in chest trauma was performed. METHODS: This retrospective study includes 24 cases with chest trauma that underwent postmortem CT, MRI, and autopsy. Two board-certified radiologists, blind to the autopsy findings, evaluated the radiologic data independently. Each radiologist interpreted postmortem CT and MRI data together for every case. The comparison of the results of the radiologic assessment with the autopsy and a calculation of interobserver discrepancy was performed. RESULTS: Using combined CT and MRI, between 75% and 100% of the investigated findings, except for hemomediastinum (70%), diaphragmatic ruptures (50%; n=2) and heart injury (38%), were discovered. Although the sensitivity and specificity regarding pneumomediastinum, pneumopericardium, and pericardial effusion were not calculated, as these findings were not mentioned at the autopsy, these findings were clearly seen radiologically. The averaged interobserver concordance was 90%. CONCLUSION: The sensitivity and specificity of our results demonstrate that postmortem CT and MRI are useful diagnostic methods for assessing chest trauma in forensic medicine as a supplement to autopsy. Further radiologic-pathologic case studies are necessary to define the role of postmortem CT and MRI as a single examination modality.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Radiology, Neuroradiology and Nuclear Medicine (DRNN) > Institute of Diagnostic, Interventional and Paediatric Radiology 04 Faculty of Medicine > Service Sector > Institute of Legal Medicine > Forensic Medicine 04 Faculty of Medicine > Service Sector > Institute of Legal Medicine
UniBE Contributor:	Christe, Andreas, Jackowski, Christian, Thali, Michael, Vock, Peter
ISSN:	0883-5993
ISBN:	18347515
Publisher:	Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Language:	English
Submitter:	Factscience Import
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2013 15:01
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:18
Publisher DOI:	10.1097/RTI.0b013e31815c85d6
PubMed ID:	18347515
Web of Science ID:	000253790700004
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/26271 (FactScience: 67986)