Postmortem forensic imaging: An essential tool in contentious cases

IF 0.1 Q4 RADIOLOGY, NUCLEAR MEDICINE & MEDICAL IMAGING
N. Nwafor, C. Nwafor, J. Obafunwa, M. Ekpo
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引用次数: 2

Abstract

Background: Traditional autopsy (TA) is employed towards determining the cause and manner of death. Over the last decade, virtual autopsy (VA), involving the application of forensic imaging techniques have gained prominence and, with great precision in developed countries. Aim: This is to compare the findings at post-mortem using forensic imaging techniques and, those of TA. Materials and Methods: Post-mortem CT-Scan and MRI techniques were employed in the present case and for the first time in Nigeria, to identify the fatal injuries and determine their causation. The examination was done prior to the TA; the latter was done by a team of pathologists without the prior knowledge of the imaging findings. The results, using both methods, were subsequently compared. Results: Most of the VA and TA findings were the same except for the areas that were not readily accessible to the pathology team because of prior embalmment of the body. The inexperience of the radiologist in the area of post-mortem forensic imaging also contributed to the few discrepancies. Conclusion: This is the first virtopsy to be conducted in Nigeria and, with impressive results. The findings compare favourably with those of TA and, have the added advantage of identifying minor injuries that might easily be missed using TA method. Success is however hinged on the expertise of the forensic radiologist and forensic pathologist. While VA can be employed to solve the problems of religious opposition to TA, the cost of the former is astronomical.
死后法医成像:在有争议的案件中必不可少的工具
背景:传统的尸检(TA)用于确定死亡原因和方式。在过去的十年里,涉及法医成像技术应用的虚拟尸检(VA)在发达国家获得了突出地位,并具有极高的精度。目的:比较使用法医成像技术和TA的尸检结果。材料和方法:本病例采用尸检CT扫描和MRI技术,并在尼日利亚首次采用,以确定致命损伤并确定其原因。检查在TA之前完成;后者是由一组病理学家在事先不了解成像结果的情况下完成的。随后对两种方法的结果进行了比较。结果:大多数VA和TA的发现是相同的,除了病理组由于之前对身体进行防腐处理而不容易接近的区域。放射科医生在死后法医成像领域缺乏经验也是造成少数差异的原因。结论:这是在尼日利亚进行的第一次virtopsy,结果令人印象深刻。这些发现与TA的结果相比是有利的,并且具有额外的优势,即使用TA方法识别可能容易遗漏的轻伤。然而,成功取决于法医放射科医生和法医病理学家的专业知识。虽然VA可以用来解决宗教反对TA的问题,但前者的成本是天文数字。
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来源期刊
West African Journal of Radiology
West African Journal of Radiology RADIOLOGY, NUCLEAR MEDICINE & MEDICAL IMAGING-
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