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European Radiology
Published in: European Radiology 5/2015

Open Access 01-05-2015 | Forensic Medicine

Diffusion-weighted perinatal postmortem magnetic resonance imaging as a marker of postmortem interval

Authors: Owen J. Arthurs, Gemma C. Price, David W. Carmichael, Rod Jones, Wendy Norman, Andrew M. Taylor, Neil J. Sebire

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 5/2015

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Abstract

Objective

To evaluate perinatal body organ apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values at postmortem magnetic resonance imaging (PMMR) in order to evaluate postmortem changes.

Methods

Postmortem diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of the thorax and abdomen were performed with diffusion gradient values b = 0, 500, and 1000 s/mm2 on 15 foetal and childhood cases (mean 33.3 ± 7.8 weeks gestation) compared to 44 live infants (mean age 75.5 ± 53.4 days). Mean ADC values were calculated from regions of interest (ROIs) for the lungs, liver, spleen and renal cortex, compared to normative live infantile body ADC values of similar gestational age.

Results

Mean ADC values were significantly lower in postmortem cases than in normal controls for liver (0.88 10-3 mm2/s ± SD 0.39 vs. 1.13 ± 0.13; p < 0.05) and renal cortex (0.85 ± 0.26 vs. 1.19 ± 0.13; p < 0.05) but not spleen or muscle. Mean lung ADC values were significantly higher than normal controls (1.06 ± 0.18 vs. 0 ± 0; p < 0.001), and there was a significant correlation between postmortem interval and lung ADC (R2 = 0.55).

Conclusion

Lung PMMR ADC values are related to postmortem interval, making them a potential marker of time since death. Further research is needed to understand the organ-specific changes which occur in the postmortem period.

Key Points

• Liver and spleen PM ADC values were lower than controls.
• Lung ADC changes correlate with PM interval.
• These findings may be useful in medicolegal cases.
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Metadata
Title
Diffusion-weighted perinatal postmortem magnetic resonance imaging as a marker of postmortem interval
Authors
Owen J. Arthurs
Gemma C. Price
David W. Carmichael
Rod Jones
Wendy Norman
Andrew M. Taylor
Neil J. Sebire
Publication date
01-05-2015
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Radiology / Issue 5/2015
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-014-3525-y

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