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Proof of live birth using postmortem multislice computed tomography (pmMSCT) in cases of suspected neonaticide: advantages of diagnostic imaging compared to conventional autopsy

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Abstract

Proof of live birth is of major importance in suspected neonaticide cases. Although not without controversy the lung flotation test is the main method used to asses this in different jurisdictions worldwide. The present study examines the usefulness of postmortem multislice computed tomography (pmMSCT) in the detection of live birth signs. Body scans were conducted on four infants, one was stillborn, another died a day after birth and the other two were classified as neonaticides. The appearance of the lungs, gastrointestinal tract and vascular system of the liver was compared in these cases. Clear differences were discernable between the lungs of the stillborn and the 1 day old infant. The aerated lungs and air in the stomach and duodenum were clearly visible in the latter case while the stillborn infant lacked these signs. The two neonaticide cases demonstrated similarly aerated lung tissue to the 1 day old infant. The hepatic vessels did not show any putrefactive gas changes in any of the cases. The extent of aeration of the peripheral alveoli was easily observable on the pmMSCT, thus making it a useful tool in the possible differentiation between artificially and naturally aerated lungs. During the four autopsies the classic flotation tests were performed and similar positive aeration of the lungs in the two neonaticides was shown. The stillborn’s tests, on the other hand were negative for aeration. The results of this study clearly demonstrate the advantages of using pmMSCT before commencing a conventional autopsy in cases of suspected neonaticide.

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Acknowledgments

Dr. René Gapert’s stay at the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences in Berlin was supported by a DAAD Research Scholarship (German Academic Exchange Service Research Grant A/11/75955). The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Saskia S. Guddat, René Gapert, Michael Tsokos & Lars Oesterhelweg

  2. Human Anatomy Laboratory, UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    René Gapert

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  1. Saskia S. Guddat
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  2. René Gapert
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  3. Michael Tsokos
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  4. Lars Oesterhelweg
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Correspondence to René Gapert.

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Guddat, S.S., Gapert, R., Tsokos, M. et al. Proof of live birth using postmortem multislice computed tomography (pmMSCT) in cases of suspected neonaticide: advantages of diagnostic imaging compared to conventional autopsy. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 9, 3–12 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-012-9361-y

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