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European Radiology
Published in: European Radiology 1/2012

01-01-2012 | Emergency Radiology

The effectiveness of postmortem multidetector computed tomography in the detection of fatal findings related to cause of non-traumatic death in the emergency department

Authors: Naoya Takahashi, Takeshi Higuchi, Motoi Shiotani, Yasuo Hirose, Hiroyuki Shibuya, Haruo Yamanouchi, Hideki Hashidate, Kazuhisa Funayama

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 1/2012

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Abstract

Objectives

To investigate the diagnostic performance of postmortem multidetector computed tomography (PMMDCT) for the detection of fatal findings related to causes of non-traumatic death in the emergency department (ED).

Methods

494 consecutive cases of clinically diagnosed non-traumatic death in ED involving PMMDCT were enrolled. The fatal findings were detected on PMMDCT and classified as definite or possible findings. These findings were confirmed by autopsy in 20 cases.

Results

The fatal findings were detected in 188 subjects (38.1%) including 122 with definite (24.7%) and 66 with possible finding (13.4%). Definite findings included 21 cases of intracranial vascular lesions, 84 with intra-thoracic haemorrhage, 13 with retroperitoneal haemorrhage and one with oesophagogastric haemorrhage. In three patients who had initially been diagnosed with non-traumatic death, PMMDCT revealed fatal traumatic findings. Two definite findings (two haemopericardiums) and seven possible findings (two intestinal obstructions, one each of multiple liver tumours central pulmonary artery dilatation, pulmonary congestion, peritoneal haematoma, and brain oedema) were confirmed by autopsy. The causes of death were not determined in cases with possible findings without autopsy.

Conclusions

PMMDCT is a feasible tool for detecting morphological fatal findings in non-traumatic death in ED. It is important to know the ability and limitation of PMMDCT.

Key Points

• Postmortem multi-detector CT (MDCT) can reveal the cause of non-traumatic death.
• Postmortem MDCT is quick and can be widely available.
• Postmortem MDCT is acceptable to those relatives who object to invasive autopsy.
• MDCT cannot establish the cause of death in all patients.
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Metadata
Title
The effectiveness of postmortem multidetector computed tomography in the detection of fatal findings related to cause of non-traumatic death in the emergency department
Authors
Naoya Takahashi
Takeshi Higuchi
Motoi Shiotani
Yasuo Hirose
Hiroyuki Shibuya
Haruo Yamanouchi
Hideki Hashidate
Kazuhisa Funayama
Publication date
01-01-2012
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
European Radiology / Issue 1/2012
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-011-2248-6

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