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The Role of Cross-Sectional Imaging in the Investigation of Childhood Deaths

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Abstract

As autopsy practices continue to evolve, new imaging techniques are introduced. Imaging has long played a part in the investigation of suspicious childhood deaths, largely because of the nature of occult fractures being only identifiable through skeletal survey radiographs. Cross-sectional imaging is now more readily available in most institutions, including post mortem multi-detector computed tomography (PMCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (PMMR). Whilst the majority of the evidence-base for their use is likely to come from a non-forensic setting, the added value of PMCT and PMMR to forensic investigations will become clear over time. This chapter is divided into four sections:

  1. 1.

    Paediatric autopsy practice, the nature of childhood deaths and why post mortem imaging is increasingly appealing

  2. 2.

    Imaging modalities and their advantages and disadvantages

  3. 3.

    Use of cross-sectional imaging in specific circumstances (trauma, non-accidental injury, hanging, etc.)

  4. 4.

    Additional benefits of cross-sectional imaging (post mortem interval, modeling)

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Histopathology, UCL Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK

    J. Ciaran Hutchinson & Neil J. Sebire

  2. UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK

    J. Ciaran Hutchinson, Neil J. Sebire & Owen J. Arthurs

  3. Paediatric Radiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, London, UK

    Owen J. Arthurs

Authors
  1. J. Ciaran Hutchinson
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  2. Neil J. Sebire
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  3. Owen J. Arthurs
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Correspondence to Owen J. Arthurs .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Robert Kilpatrick Building, East Midlands Forensic Pathology Unit, Leicester, Leicestershire, United Kingdom

    Guy N. Rutty

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Hutchinson, J.C., Sebire, N.J., Arthurs, O.J. (2017). The Role of Cross-Sectional Imaging in the Investigation of Childhood Deaths. In: Rutty, G. (eds) Essentials of Autopsy Practice. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46997-3_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46997-3_1

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