High-Tech Forensics: CT Body Scan Autopsies

Like other scientists and professionals, radiologists are always on the lookout for different applications of their skills, abilities, and equipment. In a recent press release, researchers announced that a CT scan (computed tomography) is a viable option to be used for medical examiners' autopsies.

Researchers have determined that using a CT autopsy could replace current autopsy standards when investigating particular accidental deaths. Further, because a CT scan identifies the structure of the entire body, it is more sensitive than other types of examinations.

Researchers determined that the CT scan was able to successfully identify air embolisms, something that is commonly undetected by most technologies. However, it is important to note when there is a fatal trauma since it can be a contributing factor.

Using a CT scan for an autopsy can have many benefits. When a death is considered suspicious, typical autopsies must be concerned with destroying critical elements of the forensic evidence. This evidence would not be destroyed when a CT scan was performed.

Some religions or cultural beliefs prohibit physical autopsies that harm the body. By conducting a CT autopsy, these beliefs could be adhered to while the information was still obtained.

CT scans are much quicker than traditional autopsies, and may one day be used to compliment a traditional autopsy. When the victim has been shot, a CT scan can quickly locate bullet, bullet fragments, and bone fragments much quicker than a standard autopsy.

Finally, a CT autopsy is likely far less expensive than the cost of a traditional autopsy.

The concept of using CT scans in an autopsy is not new. Several other countries use this technology for this purpose already. However, it has been slow to catch on in the United States. In the U.S. it has only been used to conduct autopsies on a few American soldiers.

"CT is a sensitive imaging tool for detecting injuries and cause of death in victims of blunt trauma. When there are major injuries, such as those resulting from a motor vehicle accident, CT may provide enough information to enable a conventional autopsy to be avoided altogether," said Barry Daly, M.D., professor of radiology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and radiologist at University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.

In conducting this study, researchers compared the results from over 20 different autopsies. First these bodies were scanned using the whole-body CT scanner at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Two radiologists later interpreted the results.

After the CT autopsy was complete, a traditional forensic medical examiner conducted autopsies on the same bodies. When discussing the results of the CT autopsy, the forensic medical examiner found the data from the CT scan helpful.

Most of the autopsies, whether conducted by the radiologist or medical examiner, were comparable.

Source:
http://www.rsna.org/media/pressreleases/pr_target.cfm?ID=334