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Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology
Published in: Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology 4/2016

01-12-2016 | Technical Report

Forensic postmortem computed tomography: volumetric measurement of the heart and liver

Authors: Lykke Schrøder Jakobsen, Sissel Lundemose, Jytte Banner, Niels Lynnerup, Christina Jacobsen

Published in: Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology | Issue 4/2016

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the utility of postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) images in estimating organ sizes and to examine the use of the cardiothoracic ratio (CTR).

Methods

We included 45 individuals (19 females), who underwent a medico-legal autopsy. Using the computer software program Mimics®, we determined in situ heart and liver volumes derived from linear measurements (width, height and depth) on a whole body PMCT-scan, and compared the volumes with ex vivo volumes derived by CT-scan of the eviscerated heart and liver. The ex vivo volumes were also compared with the organ weights. Further, we compared the CTR with the ex vivo heart volume and a heart weight-ratio (HWR). Intra- and inter-observer analyses were performed.

Results

We found no correlation between the in situ and ex vivo volumes of the heart and liver. However, a highly significant correlation was found between the ex vivo volumes and weights of the heart and liver. No correlations between CTR and the ex vivo heart volume nor with HWR was found. Concerning cardiomegaly, we found no agreement between the CTR and HWR. The intra- and inter-observer analyses showed no significant differences.

Conclusions

Noninvasive in situ PMCT methods for organ measuring, as performed in this study, are not useful tools in forensic pathology. The best method to estimate organ volume is a CT-scan of the eviscerated organ. PMCT-determined CTR seems to be useless for ascertaining cardiomegaly, as it neither correlated with the ex vivo heart volume nor with the HWR.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Forensic postmortem computed tomography: volumetric measurement of the heart and liver
Authors
Lykke Schrøder Jakobsen
Sissel Lundemose
Jytte Banner
Niels Lynnerup
Christina Jacobsen
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology / Issue 4/2016
Print ISSN: 1547-769X
Electronic ISSN: 1556-2891
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-016-9810-0

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