Imaging Characteristics of Frozen Corpses: An Analysis Based on Postmortem Computed Tomography
Background: As traditional autopsy rates decline, the importance of forensic imaging, particularly postmortem computed tomography (PMCT), grows for non-invasive cause of death determination and evidence collection in legal investigations, with unique considerations required for frozen corpses due to...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Forensic Science and Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jfsm.jfsm_151_24 |
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| Summary: | Background:
As traditional autopsy rates decline, the importance of forensic imaging, particularly postmortem computed tomography (PMCT), grows for non-invasive cause of death determination and evidence collection in legal investigations, with unique considerations required for frozen corpses due to the lack of systematic imaging characteristic studies.
Aims and Objectives:
This study aims to fill the gap in current knowledge by systematically analyzing the PMCT imaging characteristics of frozen corpses.
Materials and Methods:
This study utilized postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) and postmortem computed tomography angiography (PMCTA) to examine tissue changes during the freezing and thawing process in a total of 61 corpses.
Results:
The results demonstrated that imaging changes in the brain were most pronounced during freezing and thawing, with a clear correlation to the duration of freezing/thawing and the position of the corpses. Typical ice crystal artifacts were observed in body fluids after freezing, while thawing led to a marked increase and redistribution of internal gas. Serial angiographic studies revealed “pseudo-brain hemorrhage” in the brainstem and cerebellum in several cases due to incomplete thawing and transport.
Conclusion:
This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the CT imaging characteristics of frozen corpses, elucidating the imaging features during the freezing and thawing processes. |
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| ISSN: | 2349-5014 2455-0094 |