虚拟解剖与传统尸检方法的比较（附4例分析）

目的 探讨虚拟解剖在法医尸检中的应用价值。方法 对4例PMCT影像资料进行回顾性研究，总结比较PMCT与传统尸检结果的差异，分析虚拟解剖对于法医学尸检的价值。结果 PMCT在积液、积气、出血、骨折等检查方面具有更高的敏感性，对死因、损伤机制及死亡方式的判断亦具有重要补充作用。结论 虚拟解剖在法医尸体检案中具有较高应用价值，是传统尸体解剖的重要补充。建议国家加大设备投入，促进虚拟解剖在法医学尸体检案的常规应用。     

PMCT在交通事故死亡鉴定中应用2例

<正>虚拟解剖技术作为传统尸检的重要辅助手段，以其无创性、精确性、高效性等独特优势，在法医学死因鉴定中，发挥着越来越重要的作用^[1–3]。因交通事故导致死亡的案件通过尸体解剖检验可明确死因，但实践中因多种原因导致交通事故死亡案件的尸体解剖率并不高，虚拟解剖技术的快速发展为交通事故死亡案件的鉴定提供了一种无创便捷的辅助或者替代手段。本文通过介绍2例因交通事故导致死亡后经死后尸体CT(Postmortem Computed Tomography,PMCT)确定死因的案例，探讨了虚拟解剖技术在道路交通事故死亡案件中的应用价值。     

MSCT鉴定高坠死亡1例分析

目的使用多层螺旋CT(multi-slice spiral computed tomography,MSCT)技术对高坠伤的损伤特征进行观察分析,并通过对高坠伤的分析和观察重建高坠过程,从而探讨MSCT在分析高坠伤案例中的应用价值。方法以真实的高坠伤案例为对象,分别运用MSCT平扫、三维重建技术对尸体进行全面检查,联合运用系统尸体解剖分析高坠伤死亡方式等特点,比较尸体解剖和MSCT在获取损伤信息方面的差异。结果MSCT扫描结合三维重建,发现全身多部位骨折以及肝破裂,尸体解剖与影像学检查结果相对应,推断死亡原因为高坠致全身多发伤。结论 MSCT在高坠伤案件致伤方式分析中可作为传统尸体解剖的补充手段。     

PMCT在机械性窒息方面的研究进展

机械性窒息是公安法医日常检案中最常见的死因之一。如何快速准确的判断死者是否为机械性窒息死亡、以及作案手段是判断案件性质、指引案件侦破方向的重要因素。在法医鉴定过程中,诊断机械性窒息需要结合尸体体表征象、尸体内部征象、组织病理学检验等多方面综合判断。PMCT在骨折的检测、异物的检测和气体的检测方面具有极大的优势,在许多国家和地区已作为常规检验手段。本文综述了国内外近年来使用PMCT研究机械性窒息案例中舌骨骨折、甲状软骨骨折、椎间盘真空现象等多个征象的成果,讨论了PMCT诊断机械性窒息的应用价值与潜力,并对国内PMCT的发展前景进行了展望。     

水中尸体PMCT最新研究进展

溺水是公安法医日常检案中最常见的死因之一,水中发现的尸体是否为生前入水,是公安法医日常鉴定的要点也是难点,而一旦溺亡的案件中掺杂了其他复杂的案情,其鉴定意见失真也极易引起不良的社会影响。法医鉴定过程中,溺死一般依据尸体征象、组织病理学检验和硅藻检验等综合考虑。PMCT为法医诊断溺死提供了新的思路并被许多国家和地区常规使用于诊断溺死。本文综述了国内外近年来使用PMCT对溺死尸体呼吸系统、消化系统和循环系统等方面的研究成果,讨论了PMCT诊断溺死的应用价值与潜力,并对国内PMCT发展的必要性和前景进行了展望。     

新冠肺炎合并急性脑梗死的尸体影像学检查1例

<正>本文报道了现代尸体影像学方法（PMCT和PMCTA）发现新冠肺炎患者合并急性脑梗死亡1例。本例研究表明，现代尸体影像学方法对于脑血管病变检查具有较高的敏感性，建议作为新冠肺炎相关神经系统损伤死亡案例检查的常规方法。1案例资料1.1简要案情某男，52岁，既往体健。2023年1月某日，感染新冠肺炎后被人发现死于出租屋内。由于家属拒绝尸体解剖，为查明死亡原因，在尸表检查后对其进行了全身高分辨率尸体计算机断层扫描（Postmortem Computed Tomography,PMCT）和尸体计算机断层扫描血管造影（Postmortem Computed Tomography Angiography,PMCTA）。     

虚拟解剖技术在医疗纠纷尸体检验中的应用

目的探讨CT扫描技术在医疗纠纷死亡原因鉴定中的应用价值。方法在2017年7月至2018年12月间,对12例医疗纠纷案例行全身CT检验,比较CT影像诊断与解剖所见及生前与死后CT诊断的差异性,分析尸体的CT常规检验在病变与损伤的诊断方面的优势与劣势。结果 CT影像诊断与解剖所见比较显示,在密度改变差异大的病变和损伤的诊断方面CT检验存在优势,如肺不张、肺炎、钙化、骨折、出血等;生前与死后CT诊断的比较显示医疗纠纷案件的尸体保存都较为良好,死后CT扫描检验对生前疾病诊断具有意义。结论虚拟解剖技术在医疗纠纷尸体检验中有较高的应用价值,可在尸体解剖前为鉴定人提供有效信息,也可在无法进行解剖的情况下为死亡原因分析提供参考依据。     

我国法医学尸体解剖室建设发展现状及对策初探

法医学尸体解剖在司法尤其是刑事案件中发挥着非常重要的作用。目前,我国的法医学尸体解剖环境相对较差,在制定各种规范和加强法医个人防护措施的情况下,加快尸体解剖室标准化建设显得尤为重要[1]。1法医学尸体解剖室建设发展现状1.1灾难性事件/案件中的法医工作环境及条件据调研,迄今为止,我国除省会城市和大城市外,绝大多数基层法医在极其简陋的工作环境中进行命案尸体及其他非正常死亡尸体的解剖和检验。     

脑梗死的尸体影像学诊断研究

目的 初步探究尸体影像学方法在脑梗诊断方面的应用价值。方法 对3例脑梗案例尸体影像资料（PMCT和PMCTA）进行回顾性研究，分析讨论尸体影像学方法用于陈旧性脑梗或急性脑梗的系统诊断能力。结果 PMCT可用于陈旧性脑梗塞区域大小、部位和形态的记录，死后变化引起的脑组织密度改变无法完全掩盖生前陈旧性脑梗死。PMCTA能进一步满足狭窄、闭塞脑动脉血管的精准定位，通过观察狭窄闭塞血管对应供血区域是否出现低密度梗死灶，可用于是否存在急性脑梗（<24 h）的判断。利用尸体影像学单一方法判断脑血管狭窄闭塞的原因尚具有挑战性，未来通过影像学引导进行尸体脑病变血管的精准解剖及组织病理学检查，有望解决这一难题。结论 尸体影像学方法（PMCT和PMCTA）在尸体脑梗诊断方面具有一定的应用价值，建议有条件的实验室将其作为法医尸体脑血管病理学检查的常规手段。     

肠穿孔的尸体影像学诊断研究

目的 探究尸体影像学方法在肠穿孔诊断方面的价值。方法 对2例肠穿孔（和4例对照案例）的尸体影像资料（PMCT和PMCTA）进行回顾性研究,分析尸体影像学方法用于肠穿孔的诊断能力。结果 PMCT对于肠穿孔引起的游离气体、液体的检测具有较高的敏感性,有时还可观察到腹盆腔低下部位的脓性分泌物,PMCTA能够发现肠穿孔部位造影剂的渗漏,因此可用于穿孔部位的准确定位。结论 尸体影像学方法（PMCT和PMCTA）在肠穿孔诊断方面具有重要价值,可以作为法医学肠穿孔诊断或解剖前穿孔定位的方法。     

The Role of Postmortem Computed Tomography in the Evaluation of Strangulation Deaths

We explored the value of postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) to augment autopsy in evaluating strangulation fatalities. A literature search identified 16 studies describing autopsy findings in 576 deaths and two studies describing autopsy and PMCT findings in six deaths. Similar cases were identified from our institution, yielding 130 deaths with autopsy findings and 14 deaths with both autopsy and PMCT findings. The presence of laryngohyoid fracture and soft tissue hemorrhage was compared from autopsy and autopsy+PMCT cases. The detection rates of fractures in autopsy and autopsy+PMCT cases were not significantly different. PMCT identified all fractures observed at autopsy and five fractures not identified. While PMCT may not detect soft tissue injuries in decomposed remains or subtle internal hemorrhages in neck injury, it is equally able to detect bony injuries as autopsy and might surpass autopsy in detecting subtle fractures. We conclude PMCT is useful to supplement autopsy in strangulation cases.     

Can computed tomography replace or supplement autopsy?

Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) has been integrated into the practice of many forensic pathologists. To evaluate the utility of PMCT in supplementing and/or supplanting medicolegal autopsy, we conducted a prospective double-blind comparison of abnormal findings reported by the autopsy pathologist with those reported by a radiologist reviewing the PMCT. We reviewed 890 cases: 167 with blunt force injury (BFI), 63 with pediatric trauma (under 5 years), 203 firearm injuries, and 457 drug poisoning deaths. Autopsy and radiology reports were coded using the Abbreviated Injury Scale and abnormal findings and cause of death (COD) were compared for congruence in consensus conferences with novel pathologists and radiologists. Overall sensitivity for recognizing abnormal findings was 71% for PMCT and 74.6% for autopsy. Sensitivities for PMCT/autopsy were 74%/73.1% for BFI, 61.5%/71.4% for pediatric trauma, 84.9%/83.7% for firearm injuries, and 56.5%/66.4% for drug poisoning deaths. COD assigned by reviewing PMCT/autopsy was correct in 88%/95.8% of BFI cases, 99%/99.5% of firearm fatalities, 82.5%/98.5% of pediatric trauma deaths, and 84%/100% of drug poisoning deaths of individuals younger than 50. Both autopsy and PMCT were imperfect in recognizing injuries. However, both methods identified the most important findings and are sufficient to establish COD in cases of BFI, pediatric trauma, firearm injuries and drug poisoning in individuals younger than 50. Ideally, all forensic pathologists would have access to a CT scanner and a consulting radiologist. This would allow a flexible approach that meets the diagnostic needs of each case and best serves decedents' families and other stakeholders.     

Contributions from Forensic Imaging to the Investigation of Upper Cervical Fractures

Abstract: Injuries to the upper cervical spine (UCS) are common in traumatic deaths and postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) may contribute to the forensic investigation. This study presents PMCT in comparison with autopsy in the examination of UCS injury. Thirteen consecutive cases with UCS fracture and/or cranio‐cervical dislocation were examined with PMCT and autopsy, and the findings were correlated. Neither of the techniques identified all UCS injuries. Fractures of atlas and axis were best visualized with PMCT whereas cranio‐cervical dislocation was better identified during autopsy. Serious injuries were present after both high‐ and low‐energy trauma. Medico‐legal autopsy in combination with PMCT produced a thorough evaluation of UCS injuries. By combining these procedures detailed investigations, including accident reconstruction and injury pattern analysis, can be performed. This study supports the routine application of PMCT, as a supplement to the medico‐legal autopsy of deaths with UCS injuries.     

Technical and interpretive pitfalls of postmortem CT: Five examples of errors revealed by autopsy

Image acquisition of dead bodies, particularly using postmortem computed tomography (PMCT), has become common in forensic investigations worldwide. Meanwhile, in countries such as Japan which have an extremely low rate of autopsy, PMCT is being increasingly used in the clinical field to certify the cause of death (COD) without performing an autopsy or toxicological tests, even in cases of unnatural death. Additionally, these PMCT images are predominantly interpreted by clinical personnel such as emergency physicians or clinicians who are not trained in PMCT interpretation and who work for the police, that is, the so-called police doctors. Many potential pitfalls associated with the use of PMCT have been previously described in textbooks and published papers, including the pitfalls of not performing a complete forensic pathology investigation, and the use of physicians without appropriate PMCT training to interpret PMCT and direct death investigation and certification. We describe five examples in which apparent misdiagnosis of COD based on PMCT misinterpretation was revealed by autopsy. Here are the five examples of errors: (1) Postmortem changes were misinterpreted as COD, (2) resuscitation effects were misinterpreted as COD, (3) COD was determined after an incomplete examination, (4) fatal findings caused by external origin were wrongly interpreted as ‘of internal origin’ based on PMCT, and (5) non-fatal findings on PMCT were wrongly interpreted as fatal. Interpretation of PMCT by appropriately trained physicians and an accompanying complete forensic investigation, including autopsy when indicated, is necessary to prevent significant errors in COD determination and related potential adverse medicolegal consequences.     

Postmortem Computed Tomography in Firearm Homicides: A Retrospective Case Series,

Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) is integrated into the evaluation of decedents in several American medical examiner offices and medicolegal death investigative centers in many other countries. We retrospectively investigated the value of PMCT in a series of firearm homicide cases from a statewide centralized medical examiner’s office that occurred during 2016. Autopsies were performed or supervised by board-certified forensic pathologists who reviewed the PMCT scans prior to autopsy. PMCT scans were re-evaluated by a forensic radiologist blinded to the autopsy findings and scored by body region (head–neck, thoracoabdominal, and extremities). Injury discrepancies were scored using a modified Goldman classification and analyzed with McNemar’s test. We included 60 males and 20 females (median age 31 years, range 3–73). Based on PMCT, 56 (79.1%) cases had injuries relevant to the cause of death in a single body region (24 head–neck region, 32 thoracoabdominal region). Out of these 56 cases, 9 had a missed major diagnosis by PMCT outside that region, including 6 extremity injuries visible during standard external examination. Yet all had evident lethal firearm injury. We showed that PMCT identifies major firearm injuries in homicide victims and excludes injuries related to the cause of death in other regions when a single body region is injured. Although PMCT has a known limited sensitivity for soft tissue and vascular pathology, it can be combined with external examination to potentially reduce or focus dissections in some of these cases depending on the circumstances and medicolegal needs.     

Identifying Fatal Head Injuries on Postmortem Computed Tomography Using Convolutional Neural Network/Deep Learning: A Feasibility Study

Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) is a relatively recent advancement in forensic pathology practice that has been increasingly used as an ancillary investigation and screening tool. One area of clinical CT imaging that has garnered a lot of research interest recently is the area of “artificial intelligence” (AI), such as in screening and computer-assisted diagnostics. This feasibility study investigated the application of convolutional neural network, a form of deep learning AI, to PMCT head imaging in differentiating fatal head injury from controls. PMCT images of a transverse section of the head at the level of the frontal sinus from 25 cases of fatal head injury were combined with 25 nonhead-injury controls and divided into training and testing datasets. A convolutional neural network was constructed using Keras and was trained against the training data before being assessed against the testing dataset. The results of this study demonstrated an accuracy of between 70% and 92.5%, with difficulties in recognizing subarachnoid hemorrhage and in distinguishing congested vessels and prominent falx from head injury. These results are promising for potential applications as a screening tool or in computer-assisted diagnostics in the future.     

Post-mortem forensic neuroimaging: correlation of MSCT and MRI findings with autopsy results

Multislice-computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are increasingly used for forensic purposes. Based on broad experience in clinical neuroimaging, post-mortem MSCT and MRI were performed in 57 forensic cases with the goal to evaluate the radiological methods concerning their usability for forensic head and brain examination. An experienced clinical radiologist evaluated the imaging data. The results were compared to the autopsy findings that served as the gold standard with regard to common forensic neurotrauma findings such as skull fractures, soft tissue lesions of the scalp, various forms of intracranial hemorrhage or signs of increased brain pressure. The sensitivity of the imaging methods ranged from 100% (e.g., heat-induced alterations, intracranial gas) to zero (e.g., mediobasal impression marks as a sign of increased brain pressure, plaques jaunes). The agreement between MRI and CT was 69%. The radiological methods prevalently failed in the detection of lesions smaller than 3mm of size, whereas they were generally satisfactory concerning the evaluation of intracranial hemorrhage. Due to its advanced 2D and 3D post-processing possibilities, CT in particular possessed certain advantages in comparison with autopsy with regard to forensic reconstruction. MRI showed forensically relevant findings not seen during autopsy in several cases. The partly limited sensitivity of imaging that was observed in this retrospective study was based on several factors: besides general technical limitations it became apparent that clinical radiologists require a sound basic forensic background in order to detect specific signs. Focused teaching sessions will be essential to improve the outcome in future examinations. On the other hand, the autopsy protocols should be further standardized to allow an exact comparison of imaging and autopsy data. In consideration of these facts, MRI and CT have the power to play an important role in future forensic neuropathological examination.     

New horizons in forensic radiology: the 60-second digital autopsy-full-body examination of a gunshot victim by multislice computed tomography

The goal of this study was the full-body documentation of a gunshot wound victim with multislice helical computed tomography for subsequent comparison with the findings of the standard forensic autopsy. Complete volume data of the head, neck, and trunk were acquired by use of two acquisitions of less than 1 minute of total scanning time. Subsequent two-dimensional multiplanar reformations and three-dimensional shaded surface display reconstructions helped document the gunshot-created skull fractures and brain injuries, including the wound track, and the intracerebral bone fragments. Computed tomography also demonstrated intracardiac air embolism and pulmonary aspiration of blood resulting from bullet wound-related trauma. The "digital autopsy," even when postprocessing time was added, was more rapid than the classic forensic autopsy and, based on the nondestructive approach, offered certain advantages in comparison with the forensic autopsy.     

Gas at postmortem computed tomography - An evaluation of 73 non-putrefied trauma and non-trauma cases

Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) has become an important complement in investigating forensic cases allowing an accurate detection of gas accumulations. The present study investigated the presence and distribution of gas in a large number of non-putrefied cases of traumatic and non-traumatic deaths. Furthermore the possibility of pneumobilia secondary to blunt abdominal trauma was studied. Retrospectively, 73 cases, underwent a whole-body PMCT prior to autopsy. These were divided into four groups: penetrating trauma (20 gunshot cases, 13 stabbing cases), blunt abdominal trauma (20 cases) and a control group of 20 non-trauma cases. Exclusion criteria were visible signs of decomposition. Each group was screened for gas accumulations in the vascular system, internal organs, soft tissues and body cavities. Gas accumulations were present in 98% of the trauma cases, compared to 80% of the control group. The most affected structures and/or organs in the trauma group were soft tissues, vessels and the liver. In most cases of the trauma group gas was associated with open injuries and lacerations of vessels. Furthermore, in the gunshot group gas was frequently seen in the intracranial cavity. Pneumobilia occurred in one case of the blunt trauma group; in that control group gas was also seen, but less frequently. Gas accumulation showed a strong association with traumatic events, but even the majority of non-trauma cases showed gas accumulations. Despite the exclusion of cases with visible decomposition signs, a putrefactive origin of gas was assumed in some cases. Gas accumulations are a frequent finding in PMCT with a higher incidence in (open) trauma cases. Even though a differentiation between putrefactive and traumatic gas accumulations is still difficult, knowledge of the circumstance surrounding the case may help identify the origin of gas.     

Injuries of motorcyclists and bicyclists examined at autopsy.

Few studies of autopsy findings of persons dying of head and neck injuries in cyclists have been published. We performed a retrospective analysis of injury severity and the relation between head and neck injuries and helmet use. Seventy-six bicyclists and motorcyclists were collected from among the forensic autopsy at the Jikei University School of Medicine. From autopsy findings and accident reports, the abbreviated injury scale (AIS) and the injury severity score (ISS) were calculated and analyzed epidemiologically. As a result, helmet use significantly decreased the severity of head and neck injuries but had no effect on overall injury severity or the severity of injuries to other body regions. Furthermore, helmets had little effect on injuries remote from the point of impact, injuries resulting from angular acceleration, or injuries at the junction of the head and neck. These findings may be useful for both forensic pathologists and clinicians evaluating injuries in bicyclists and motorcyclists.