Top

Published in:

01-04-2015 | Minisymposium

The future of pediatric and perinatal postmortem imaging

Authors: Guillaume Gorincour, Laure Sarda-Quarello, Pierre-Eloi Laurent, Alison Brough, Guy N. Rutty

Published in: Pediatric Radiology | Issue 4/2015

Abstract

The field and applications of postmortem imaging are exponentially growing. Its potential to identify the cause of death in trauma and ballistic cases is now properly documented, as well as its use in drug mule identification. In pediatric and perinatal practice, large significant series are less available, except for MRI and central nervous system analysis where scientific evidence is now robust. In this review, after a short historical review and analysis of current problems and challenges, we will try to depict the way we see the future of this subspecialty of postmortem cross-sectional imaging, including all specific situations: terminations of pregnancy, intrauterine death, sudden unexpected infant death and identification issues.

Khong TY (2002) Falling neonatal autopsy rates. BMJ 324:749–750CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed

Arthurs OJ, Calder AD, Kiho L et al (2014) Routine perinatal and paediatric post-mortem radiography: detection rates and implications for practice. Pediatr Radiol 44:252–257CrossRefPubMed

Brodgon BG, Lichtenstein JE (1998) Forensic radiology in historical perspective. In: Brogdon BG (ed) Forensic radiology. CRC Press, Boca Raton, p 20

Eckert WG, Garland N (1984) The history of the forensic application in radiology. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 5:53–56CrossRefPubMed

Wullenweber R, Shneider V, Grummer TH (1977) A computer-tomographical examination of cranial bullet wounds (author’s translation). Z Rechtsmedizin 80:227–246CrossRef

Kranz P, Holtas S (1983) Postmortem computed tomography in a diving fatality. J Comput Assist Tomogr 7:132–134CrossRef

Donchin Y, Rivkind AI, Bar-Ziv J et al (1994) Utility of postmortem computed tomography in trauma victims. J Trauma 37:552–555, discussion 555–556CrossRefPubMed

Brookes JA, Hall-Craggs MA, Sams VR et al (1996) Non-invasive perinatal necropsy by magnetic resonance imaging. Lancet 348:1139–1141CrossRefPubMed

Rutty GN, Brogdon G, Dedouit F et al (2013) Terminology used in publications for post-mortem cross-sectional imaging. Int J Legal Med 127:465–466CrossRefPubMed

10.

Christe A, Aghayev E, Jackowski C et al (2008) Drowning—post-mortem imaging findings by computed tomography. Eur Radiol 18:283–290CrossRefPubMed

11.

Sidler M, Jackowski C, Dirnhofer R et al (2007) Use of multislice computed tomography in disaster victim identification–advantages and limitations. Forensic Sci Int 169:118–128CrossRefPubMed

12.

Añon J, Remonda L, Spreng A et al (2008) Traumatic extra-axial hemorrhage: correlation of postmortem MSCT, MRI, and forensic-pathological findings. J Magn Reson Imaging 28:823–836CrossRefPubMed

13.

Yen K, Lovblad KO, Scheurer E et al (2007) Post-mortem forensic neuroimaging: correlation of MSCT and MRI findings with autopsy results. Forensic Sci Int 173:21–35CrossRefPubMed

14.

Yen K, Vock P, Christe A et al (2007) Clinical forensic radiology in strangulation victims: forensic expertise based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. Int J Legal Med 121:115–123CrossRefPubMed

15.

Jackowski C, Thali MJ, Aghayev E et al (2006) Postmortem imaging of blood and its characteristics using MSCT and MRI. Int J Legal Med 120:233–240CrossRefPubMed

16.

Prodhomme O, Seguret F, Martrille L et al (2012) Organ volume measurements: comparison between MRI and autopsy findings in infants following sudden unexpected death. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 97:F434–F438PubMed

17.

http://www.chu-clermontferrand.fr/Internet/Sites/soffoet/default.aspx. Accessed January 2015

18.

Thayyil S, Sebire NJ, Chitty LS et al (2013) Post mortem magnetic resonance imaging versus conventional autopsy in fetuses and children: a prospective validation (MARIAS collaborative group). Lancet 382:223–233CrossRefPubMed

19.

Arthurs OJ, Taylor AM, Sebire NJ (2014) Indications, advantages and limitations of perinatal postmortem imaging in clinical practice. Pediatr Radiol Oct 2. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 25274468 doi:10.1007/s00247-014-3165-z

20.

Sandaite I, De Catte L, Moerman P et al (2013) A morphometric study of the human fetal heart on post-mortem 3-tesla magnetic resonance imaging. Prenat Diagn 33:318–327PubMed

21.

Thayyil S, Cleary JO, Sebire NJ et al (2009) Post-mortem examination of human fetuses: a comparison of whole-body high-field MRI at 9 · 4T with conventional MRI and invasive autopsy. Lancet 374:467–475CrossRefPubMed

22.

Foroudi F, Cheung K, Duflou J (1995) A comparison of the needle biopsy post mortem with the conventional autopsy. Pathology 27:79–82CrossRefPubMed

23.

Taylor AM, Arthurs OJ, Sebire NJ (2014) Postmortem cardiac imaging in fetuses and children. Pediatr Radiol. doi:10.1007/s00247-014-3164-0

24.

Sarda-Quarello L, Bartoli C, Laurent PE et al. (2015) Whole-body perinatal postmortem CT angiography. Diagn Interv Imaging (in press)

25.

Fleming P, Blair P, Bacon C et al (2000) Sudden unexpected deaths in infancy. The CESDI SUDI studies 1993–1996. The Stationery Office, London

26.

Blair PS, Byard RW, Fleming PJ (2012) Sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI): suggested classification and applications to facilitate research activity. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 8:312–315CrossRefPubMed

27.

Hymel KP (2006) Distinguishing sudden infant death syndrome from child abuse fatalities. Pediatrics 118:421–427CrossRefPubMed

28.

Haute Autorité de Santé (2007) French High Council for Health Uexpected infant death (under 2 years). Recommendations for professionals. HAS, Saint-Denis. Available via http://www.has-sante.fr/. Accessed 19 June 2010

29.

Kennedy H (2004) Sudden unexpected death in infancy. A multi-agency protocol for care and investigation. The report of a working group convened by The Royal College of Pathologists and The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. RCPath/RCPCH, London

30.

Krous HF, Beckwith JB, Byard RW et al (2004) Sudden infant death syndrome and unclassified sudden infant deaths: a definitional and diagnostic approach. Pediatrics 114:234–238

31.

Oyake Y, Aoki T, Shiotani S et al (2006) Postmortem computed tomography for detecting causes of sudden death in infants and children: retrospective review of cases. Radiat Med 24:493–502CrossRefPubMed

32.

Adamsbaum C, Husson B (2012) Le syndrome du bébé secoué. Quelles lésions en imagerie? [Shaken baby syndrome: which lesions in imaging?]. Arch Pediatr 19:1002–1007CrossRefPubMed

33.

Hong TS, Reyes JA, Moineddin R et al (2011) Value of postmortem thoracic CT over radiography in imaging of pediatric rib fractures. Pediatr Radiol 41:736–748CrossRefPubMed

34.

De Lange C, Vege A, Stake G (2007) Radiography after unexpected death in infants and children compared to autopsy. Pediatr Radiol 37:159–165CrossRefPubMed

35.

Proisy M, Marchand A, Loget P et al (2013) Whole-body post-mortem computed tomography compared with autopsy in the investigation of unexpected death in infants and children. Eur Radiol 23:1711–1719CrossRefPubMed

36.

Budowle B, Bieber FR, Eisenberg AJ (2005) Forensic aspects of mass disaster: strategic considerations for DNA-based human identification. Leg Med (Japan) 7:230–243CrossRef

37.

INTERPOL. General Information-Priorities. http://www.interpol.int/INTERPOL-expertise/Forensics/DVI-Pages/Forms. Accessed 26 Jan 2014

38.

Scheuer L, Black S (2000) Developmental juvenile osteology. Academic, San Diego

39.

Hines E, Rock C, Viner M (2006) Radiography. In: Thompson T, Black S (eds) Forensic human identification. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 221–228

40.

Culbert WC, Law FM (1927) Identification by comparison of roentgenograms of nasal accessory sinuses and mastoid process. J Am Med Assoc 88:1634–1636CrossRef

41.

Cavalcanti MG, Rocha SS, Vannier MW (2004) Craniofacial measurements based on 3D-CT volume rendering: implications for clinical applications. Dentomaxillofac Radiol 33:170–176CrossRefPubMed

42.

Robinson C, Eisma R, Morgan B et al (2008) Anthropological measurement of lower limb and foot bones using multi-detector computed tomography. J Forensic Sci 53:1289–1295PubMed

43.

Verhoff MA, Ramsthaler F, Krahahn J et al (2008) Digital forensic osteology-possibilities in cooperation with the virtopsy project. Forensic Sci Int 174:152–156CrossRefPubMed

44.

Dedouit F, Telmon N, Costagliola R et al (2007) New identification possibilities with postmortem multislice computed tomography. Int J Legal Med 121:507–510CrossRefPubMed

45.

Brough AL, Rutty GN, Black S et al (2012) Post-mortem computed tomography and 3D imaging: anthropological applications for juvenile remains. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 8:270–279CrossRefPubMed

46.

Brough AL, Bennett J, Morgan B et al (2013) Anthropological measurement of the juvenile clavicle using multi-detector computed tomography-affirming reliability. J Forensic Sci 58:946–951CrossRefPubMed

47.

Brough AL, Morgan B, Black S et al (2014) Postmortem computed tomography age assessment of juvenile dentition: comparison against traditional OPT assessment. Int J Legal Med 128:653–658CrossRefPubMed

48.

Lottering N, MacGregor MD, Barry MD et al (2014) Introducing standardized protocols for anthropological measurement of virtual sub-adult crania using computed tomography. J Forensic Radiol Imag 2:34–38

Title: The future of pediatric and perinatal postmortem imaging
Authors: Guillaume Gorincour
Laure Sarda-Quarello
Pierre-Eloi Laurent
Alison Brough
Guy N. Rutty
Publication date: 01-04-2015
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Pediatric Radiology / Issue 4/2015
Print ISSN: 0301-0449
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1998
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-014-3266-8

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

The future of pediatric and perinatal postmortem imaging

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 4/2015

Running a postmortem service — a business case and clinical experience

What are the greatest challenges or barriers to applying post-mortem imaging in pediatric radiology?

Indications, advantages and limitations of perinatal postmortem imaging in clinical practice

What are the greatest challenges and/or barriers to applying postmortem imaging in paediatric radiology?

Postmortem cardiac imaging in fetuses and children

Paediatric and perinatal postmortem imaging: mortui vivos docent