Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Lodox®: the invaluable radiographic solution in the forensic setting

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Legal Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The benefits of a comparatively inexpensive radiographic system such as the Lodox® scanner in forensic facilities where CT-imaging and radiologist support is not financially viable will be explored. Prodigious caseloads in many under-resourced mortuaries preclude the use of advanced radiological modalities. The aim of this research is to examine the utilization of the Lodox® scanner in one of the busiest mortuaries in South Africa in relation to the nature of the cases scanned and, furthermore, to provide case studies where this imaging modality proved vital in the examination of the deceased and in the approach to the autopsy. The research is a retrospective epidemiological review on the use of the Lodox® scanner at the Salt River Medico-legal Laboratory, Cape Town, South Africa, from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2017. A total of 3885 cases was admitted to the mortuary; the majority was scanned. A large proportion of cases were male. Ages ranged from foetuses to the elderly. The manner of death in more than a third of the cases was homicide which mainly involved firearm fatalities. This was followed by natural deaths. Pertinent case studies are presented to demonstrate that the use of the Lodox® scanner as an adjunct (or even obviating autopsy) proves to save time and labour and is financially beneficial. In conclusion, the Lodox® scanner is an indispensable tool in mortuaries with heavy caseloads because its use improves quality assurance, saves time, and is cost effective in the examination of both natural and unnatural deaths.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Figs. 10 and 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Leth PM (2009) Computerized tomography used as a routine procedure at postmortem investigations. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 30(3):219–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Poulsen K, Simonsen J (2007) Computed tomography as routine in connection with medico-legal autopsies. Forensic Sci Int 171(2–3):190–197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. O’ Donnell C, Rotman A, Collett S, Woodford N (2007) Current status of routine post-mortem CT in Melbourne, Australia. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 3(3):226–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Roberts ISD, Benamore RE, Benbow EW, Lee SH, Harris JN, Jackson A, Mallett S, Patankar T, Peebles C, Roobottom C, Traill ZC (2012) Post-mortem imaging as an alternative to autopsy in the diagnosis of adult deaths: a validation study. Lancet 379(9811):136–142. Available from:. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(11)61483-9

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Beningfield S, Potgieter H, Nicol A, van As S, Bowie G, Hering ELE (2003) Report on a new type of trauma full-body digital X-ray machine. Emerg Radiol 10(1):23–29 [cited 2018 Mar 6]; Available from: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10140-003-0271-x.pdf

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Deyle S, Wagner A, Benneker LM, Jeger V, Eggli S, Bonel HM, Zimmermann H, Exadaktylos AK (2009) Could full-body digital X-ray (LODOX-Statscan) screening in trauma challenge conventional radiography? J Trauma Inj Infect Crit Care [Internet] [cited 2018 Mar 6];66(2):418–22. Available from: https://insights.ovid.com/crossref?an=00005373-200902000-00018

  7. Metropolitan Municipality|Statistics South Africa [Internet]. [cited 2017 Oct 20]. Available from: http://www.statssa.gov.za/?page_id=1021&id=city-of-cape-town-municipality

  8. Our Facilities|Western Cape Government [Internet]. [cited 2017 Oct 20]. Available from: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/general-publication/our-facilities

  9. Lodox critical imaging technology [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2017 Oct 20]. Available from: http://lodox.com/

  10. Kotzé SH, Mole CG, Greyling LM (2012) The translucent cadaver: an evaluation of the use of full body digital X-ray images and drawings in surface anatomy education. Anat Sci Educ [Internet]. [cited 2018 Mar 6];5(5):287–94. Available from: http://www.mitech.co.kr/download/trauma/2012_Anatomy_Sci_Education_The_translucent_cadaver_SH.pdf

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Thomsen AH, Grethe Jurik A, Uhrenholt L, Vesterby A An alternative approach to Computerized Tomography (CT) in forensic pathology. [cited 2018 Mar 6]; Available from: https://ac.els-cdn.com/S0379073808004192/1-s2.0-S0379073808004192-main.pdf?_tid=c2e962a8-0ed5-472d-850b-b3a8f22402f4&acdnat=1520348314_5ca864a93a77685754a4761c66ed5873

  12. Jorgenson KM, Lanter J, Wiens A (2015) Benefits of utilizing full-body lodox digital radiography in forensic pathology. (May 2015):492–8. Available from: https://store.academicfp.com/index.php?_route_=an-evaluation-of-the-utility-of-postmortem-computed-tomography-in-the-diagnosis-of-lethal-coronary-artery-atherosclerosis-and-hypertensive-heart-disease-797041994

  13. Knobel GJ, Flash G, Bowie GF (2006) Lodox Statscan proves to be invaluable in forensic medicine. S Afr Med J 96(7):593–596

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Thali MJ, Viner MD, Brogdon B (2011) Brogdon’s forensic radiology. CRC Press

  15. Cooper PR, Maravilla K, Cone J (1979) Computerized tomographic scan and gunshot wounds of the head. Neurosurgery [Internet]. [cited 2018 Jun 1];4(5):373–80. Available from: https://academic.oup.com/neurosurgery/article-lookup/doi/10.1227/00006123-197905000-00001

  16. Bakay L (1984) The value of CT scan in gunshot injuries of the brain. Acta Neurochir (Wien) [Internet] [cited 2018 Jun 1];71(189). Available from: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/BF01401314.pdf

  17. Tiemensma M, Buys P, Wadee S (2010) Sudden death on an aeroplane. SAMJ [Internet]. [cited 2018 Jun 1];100(3):148–9. Available from: http://www.scielo.org.za/pdf/samj/v100n3/v100n3a10.pdf

  18. WHO|Global tuberculosis report 2017. WHO [Internet]. 2017 [cited 2018 Jun 8]; Available from: http://www.who.int/tb/publications/global_report/en/

  19. (2017) Mortality and causes of death in South Africa, 2016: Findings from death notification. [cited 2018 Jun 8]; Available from: http://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/P03093/P030932016.pdf

  20. Gandhi NR, Moll A, Sturm AW, Pawinski R, Govender T, Lalloo U, Zeller K, Andrews J, Friedland G (2006) Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis as a cause of death in patients co-infected with tuberculosis and HIV in a rural area of South Africa. Lancet [Internet]. [cited 2018 Jun 8];368(9547):1575–80. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673606695731

  21. The approved list of biological agents Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens HSE Books Health and Safety Executive Health and Safety Executive. [cited 2018 Jun 4]; Available from: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/misc208.pdf

  22. Burton JL (2003) Health and safety at necropsy. J Clin Pathol [Internet]. [cited 2018 Jun 8];56:254–60. Available from: http://jcp.bmj.com/content/jclinpath/56/4/254.full.pdf

  23. Collins C, Grange J (1999) Tuberculosis acquired in laboratories and necropsy rooms. Commun Dis Public Health [Internet]. [cited 2018 Jun 8];2:161–7. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sandra_Westacott/publication/12808108_Detection_of_antibacterial_agents_in_warm_water_prawns/links/0fcfd5112726312f50000000/Detection-of-antibacterial-agents-in-warm-water-prawns.pdf#page=9

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was presented at the 7th annual meeting of the International Society for Forensic Radiology and Imaging and the 13th annual meeting of the International Association of Forensic Radiographers.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Level 1, Falmouth Building, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa

    Marna du Plessis, Mandy Date-Chong & Linda Liebenberg

Authors
  1. Marna du Plessis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mandy Date-Chong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Linda Liebenberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marna du Plessis.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Highlights

• The Lodox® Xmplar-dr full body digital X-ray imaging device is a useful radiological adjunct in forensic mortuaries with a high annual caseload.

• The Lodox® Xmplar-dr full body digital X-ray imaging device is useful in a variety of medico-legal cases and has numerous advantages such as it does not need radiographer support, is time-saving, and may obviate the need for an autopsy.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

du Plessis, M., Date-Chong, M. & Liebenberg, L. Lodox®: the invaluable radiographic solution in the forensic setting. Int J Legal Med 134, 655–662 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-019-02116-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-019-02116-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation