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International Journal of Legal Medicine

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01-05-2020 | Subdural Hematoma | Method Paper

Communicating 3D data—interactive 3D PDF documents for expert reports and scientific publications in the field of forensic medicine

Authors: Sören Kottner, Patricia Mildred Flach, Dominic Gascho, Garyfalia Ampanozi, Michael Thali, Lars C. Ebert

Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine | Issue 3/2020

Abstract

Introduction

Modern forensic investigations increasingly revert to 3D imaging techniques, such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and 3D surface imaging. Findings are therefore often based on 3D data sets; however, this information is commonly reported and communicated within 2D imagery. The use of interactive 3D PDFs is already established in the scientific community but has yet to be implemented in the field of forensic medicine.

Methods and materials

Three example cases were chosen to serve as exemplary data for the most commonly applied imaging techniques in postmortem imaging. 3D surface models were created from postmortem magnetic resonance imaging (PMMR), postmortem computed tomography (PMCT), and 3D surface imaging data sets.

Results

PMMR revealed a space-occupying subdural hemorrhage that led to ipsilateral compression of the brain tissue of the right hemisphere. PMCT displayed a defect in the skull on the left side of the temporal bone. 3D surface imaging data displayed a patterned discoloration on the inside of the left forearm.

Discussion

Interactive 3D PDFs offer the possibility to communicate 3D information to the reader while maintaining all the benefits of a regular 2D PDF. With Adobe Acrobat, the reader can interactively navigate through 3D data sets and create sufficient depth cues to generate a realistic 3D perception of the data.

Conclusion

The interactive 3D PDF is a useful extension of standard 2D PDFs and has the potential to communicate 3D data to the reader in a more complete, more comprehensible, and less subjective manner than 2D PDFs.

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Title: Communicating 3D data—interactive 3D PDF documents for expert reports and scientific publications in the field of forensic medicine
Authors: Sören Kottner
Patricia Mildred Flach
Dominic Gascho
Garyfalia Ampanozi
Michael Thali
Lars C. Ebert
Publication date: 01-05-2020
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keyword: Subdural Hematoma
Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine / Issue 3/2020
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Electronic ISSN: 1437-1596
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-019-02156-4

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Communicating 3D data—interactive 3D PDF documents for expert reports and scientific publications in the field of forensic medicine

Abstract

Introduction

Methods and materials

Results

Discussion

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Introduction

Methods and materials

Results

Discussion

Conclusion

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