Massive Systemic Fat Embolism Detected by Postmortem Imaging and Biopsy

Flach, Patricia M; Ross, Steffen G; Bolliger, Stephan A.; Ampanozi, Garyfalia; Hatch, Gary M; Schön, Corinna; Thali, Michael J; Germerott, Tanja (2012). Massive Systemic Fat Embolism Detected by Postmortem Imaging and Biopsy. Journal of forensic sciences, 57(5), pp. 1376-1380. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2012.02144.x

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Postmortem computed tomography (pmCT) and pmCT angiography (pmCTA) provide a minimally invasive method to determine the cause of death. Postmortem image-guided biopsy allows for precise sampling of histological specimens. This case study describes the findings of lethal systemic fat embolism (FE) on whole-body unenhanced pmCT, pmCTA, and image-guided biopsy, with autopsy and histopathologic correlation. Unenhanced pmCT revealed a distinct fat level on top of sedimented layers of corpuscular blood particles and serum in the arterial system and pulmonary trunk. Subsequent pmCTA showed reproducible results, and image-guided biopsy confirmed fatal FE. pm CT/pmCTA combined with image-guided biopsy established the cause of death as right heart failure as a result of systemic fatal FE prior to autopsy. All imaging findings were consistent with traditional autopsy and histological specimens. This unique case demonstrates new imaging findings in massive, fatal FE and highlights that postmortem imaging, supplemented by image-guided biopsy, may detect the cause of death prior to traditional autopsy.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > Service Sector > Institute of Legal Medicine > Forensic Medicine 04 Faculty of Medicine > Service Sector > Institute of Legal Medicine 04 Faculty of Medicine > Service Sector > Institute of Legal Medicine > Forensic Imaging
UniBE Contributor:	Flach, Patricia, Ross, Steffen, Bolliger, Stephan, Ampanozi, Garyfalia, Hatch, Gary, Schön, Corinna, Thali, Michael, Germerott, Tanja
ISSN:	0022-1198
Publisher:	Wiley
Language:	English
Submitter:	Factscience Import
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2013 14:21
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:05
Publisher DOI:	10.1111/j.1556-4029.2012.02144.x
PubMed ID:	22537470
Web of Science ID:	000308391500038
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/6879 (FactScience: 211928)