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Insights into Imaging
Published in: Insights into Imaging 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging | Educational Review

Perinatal post-mortem ultrasound (PMUS): radiological-pathological correlation

Authors: Susan C. Shelmerdine, Neil J. Sebire, Owen J. Arthurs

Published in: Insights into Imaging | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

There has been an increasing demand and interest in post-mortem imaging techniques, either as an adjunct or replacement for the conventional invasive autopsy. Post-mortem ultrasound (PMUS) is easily accessible and more affordable than other cross-sectional imaging modalities and allows visualisation of normal anatomical structures of the brain, thorax and abdomen in perinatal cases. The lack of aeration of post-mortem foetal lungs provides a good sonographic window for assessment of the heart and normal pulmonary lobulation, in contrast to live neonates.
In a previous article within this journal, we published a practical approach to conducting a comprehensive PMUS examination. This covered the basic principles behind why post-mortem imaging is performed, helpful techniques for obtaining optimal PMUS images, and the expected normal post-mortem changes seen in perinatal deaths. In this article, we build upon this by focusing on commonly encountered pathologies on PMUS and compare these to autopsy and other post-mortem imaging modalities.
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Metadata
Title
Perinatal post-mortem ultrasound (PMUS): radiological-pathological correlation
Authors
Susan C. Shelmerdine
Neil J. Sebire
Owen J. Arthurs
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Insights into Imaging / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1869-4101
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13244-019-0762-2

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