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Post-mortem CT imaging of the lungs: pathological versus non-pathological findings

  • CHEST RADIOLOGY
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Abstract

Nowadays, the modern computed tomography techniques are more and more applied in forensic investigations. The detection of abnormalities in post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) imaging of the lungs is very common. As in clinical imaging, also in post-mortem imaging the right interpretation of alterations has an extreme importance for the assessment of correct conclusions. This is even crucial when the radiologist who approaches the PMCT images is not routinely involved in forensic cases. The aim of this article is to provide radiologists who approach PMCT imaging cases with some indications for a proper and correct interpretation of pulmonary findings, to avoid misleading forensic conclusions. Particularly, the following issues will be addressed: PMCT imaging of post-mortem changes of the lungs; PMCT imaging of pathological lungs [(a) in thoracic trauma cases, (b) in cases without thoracic trauma]. Finally, the possible pitfalls in interpretation of PMCT imaging of the lungs will be also discussed.

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Author notes

  1. Laura Filograna

    Present address: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Molecular Imaging, Interventional Radiology and Radiation Therapy, Fondazione Policlinico “Tor Vergata”, Viale Oxford 81, 00133, Rome, Italy

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiological Sciences, Catholic University of Rome, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy

    Laura Filograna

  2. Institute of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Imaging and Virtopsy, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland

    Michael J. Thali

Authors
  1. Laura Filograna
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  2. Michael J. Thali
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Correspondence to Laura Filograna.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Not-applicable to post-mortem examination. In all cases the Justice Department gave consent to the CT examination.

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Filograna, L., Thali, M.J. Post-mortem CT imaging of the lungs: pathological versus non-pathological findings. Radiol med 122, 902–908 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-017-0802-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-017-0802-2

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