CT of the medial clavicular epiphysis for forensic age estimation - raised arms position recommended.

Objective: To compare the effect of arm positioning on radiation dose, scan length, and image noise in computed tomography (CT) scans of the medial clavicular epiphysis for forensic age estimation performed with the arms alongside the body (arms-down) versus elevated above the head (arms-up).

Methods: Twenty consecutive CT scans were analysed, ten performed with arms-down and ten with arms-up. The scans were conducted at 120 kVp and 37 mAs reference tube current.

Technical note: An optimized protocol for standard unenhanced whole-body post-mortem Photon Counting CT imaging.

In recent years, Photon-counting detector CT (PCD CT) has emerged as a new and groundbreaking technology in clinical radiology. While clinical research and practical applications of PCD-CT are constantly evolving, it has not yet been integrated into post-mortem CT (PMCT) imaging. Documented research into the potential applications of PCD CT in the field of post-mortem human forensic pathology and anatomical pathology is scarce in literature.

Artificial intelligence in commercial fracture detection products: a systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy.

Conventional radiography (CR) is primarily utilized for fracture diagnosis. Artificial intelligence (AI) for CR is a rapidly growing field aimed at enhancing efficiency and increasing diagnostic accuracy. However, the diagnostic performance of commercially available AI fracture detection solutions (CAAI-FDS) for CR in various anatomical regions, their synergy with human assessment, as well as the influence of industry funding on reported accuracy are unknown.

Impact of artificial intelligence assistance on pulmonary nodule detection and localization in chest CT: a comparative study among radiologists of varying experience levels.

The study aimed to evaluate the impact of AI assistance on pulmonary nodule detection rates among radiology residents and senior radiologists, along with assessing the effectiveness of two different commercialy available AI software systems in improving detection rates and LungRADS classification in chest CT. The study cohort included 198 participants with 221 pulmonary nodules. Residents' mean detection rate increased significantly from 64 to 77% with AI assist, while seniors' detection rate remained largely unchanged (85% vs.

Supplementary value and diagnostic performance of computed tomography scout view in the detection of thoracolumbar spine injuries.

Purpose: Assessing the diagnostic performance and supplementary value of whole-body computed tomography scout view (SV) images in the detection of thoracolumbar spine injuries in early resuscitation phase and identifying frequent image quality confounders.

Methods: In this retrospective database analysis at a tertiary emergency center, three blinded senior experts independently assessed SV to detect thoracolumbar spine injuries. The findings were categorized according to the AO Spine classification system.

Gallstone ileus - a well-known, but rarely encountered cause for small bowel obstruction.

Gallstone ileus is a well-known cause of small bowel obstruction in the radiological literature. In the experience of these authors, gallstone ileus occurs more often in quiz cases for registrars than in the everyday casework of a radiologist. The here presented case of a gallstone ileus provides a good opportunity to summarize cause, clinical presentation, radiological findings, and treatment options for both those studying for the specialist examinations and those whose specialist examinations are long past.

Imaging of alert patients after non-self-inflicted strangulation: MRI is superior to CT.

Objective: To assess the accuracy of CT and MRI reports of alert patients presenting after non-self-inflicted strangulation (NSIS) and evaluate the appropriateness of these imaging modalities in NSIS.

Material And Methods: The study was a retrospective analysis of patient characteristics and strangulation details, with a comparison of original radiology reports (ORR) to expert read-outs (EXR) of CT and MRI studies of all NSIS cases seen from 2008 to 2020 at a single centre.

Results: The study included 116 patients (71% women, p < .

Standards of practice in forensic age estimation with CT of the medial clavicular epiphysis-a systematic review.

The AGFAD (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Forensische Alterdiagnostik, Study Group on Forensic Age Diagnostics) has published several recommendations regarding both technical aspects of computed tomography (CT) of the medial clavicular epiphysis (MCE) and the process of reading and interpreting the CT images for forensic age estimations (FAE). There are, however, no published recommendations regarding CT scan protocols and no dose reference values for CT of the MCE. The objective of this analysis was to assess adherence to AGFAD recommendations among practitioners of FAE and analyse reported dose-relevant CT scan parameters with the objective of helping to establish evidence-based dose reference values for FAE.

Effects of blood loss on organ attenuation on postmortem CT and organ weight at autopsy.

Background: Cases of external hemorrhage are difficult to recognize on postmortem computed tomography (PMCT).

Purpose: To investigate the effects of blood loss on CT attenuation of the spleen, liver, kidneys, and lungs on PMCT and to assess the relationship between blood loss and organ weight.

Methods: A total of 125 cases with blood loss were sex- and age-matched to 125 control cases without blood loss.

[COVID-19 in the Family Practice - Outpatient Treatment or Hospitalization?].

COVID-19 in the Family Practice - Outpatient Treatment or Hospitalization? Switzerland has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The clinical spectrum of this disease in terms of its clinical presentation and course is very broad. A correct initial evaluation in the practice or in the emergency department is important and includes history-taking and clinical examination as well as imaging and laboratory tests.

Value of 3T craniocervical magnetic resonance imaging following nonfatal strangulation.

Objective: The aims of this study were (1) to provide an overview of craniocervical magnetic resonance imaging (MR) findings following nonfatal strangulation (NFS), (2) to detect the time dependency of the presence of these findings, and (3) to explore the additional value of MR with regard to the forensic interpretation of NFS.

Methodology: All 633 victims of manual strangulation between October 2011 and March 2018 were examined, including the case history and external findings. Following written consent, 114 cases were included in the study.

Learning from the living to diagnose the dead - parallels between CT findings after survived drowning and fatal drowning.

A case of survived drowning is presented where CT findings of the lungs were in keeping with several findings seen on post-mortem CT (PMCT) examination after fatal drowning. These findings include interlobular septal thickening, peribronichal cuffing, mosaic pattern ground glass opacities, and perivascular nodular ground glass opacities. The absence of confounding normal post-mortem changes allows for a discussion on subtle differences between findings related to aspiration and pulmonary edema after drowning.

The gas bubble sign-a reliable indicator of laryngeal fractures in hanging on post-mortem CT.

Objective: The purpose was to evaluate the presence of gas in the tissue adjacent to the laryngeal structures, "the gas bubble sign", in cases of hanging as a diagnostic indicator of neck trauma.

Methods: In this study, post-mortem CT (PMCT) scans and autopsies of 35 victims of hanging were examined to reveal age-dependent changes, laryngeal fracture, fracture location and the presence of gas. A matched group with cardiac arrest or intoxication was used as controls (n = 35).

Comparative radiologic identification with standardized single CT images of the paranasal sinuses-Evaluation of inter-rater reliability.

The aim of this study was to assess the reproducibility of a standardized image for personal identification (SIPI), used in the comparative analysis of paranasal sinuses, and test the effect of inaccurate reformation of the SIPI on suitability for comparative identification. Five raters with different professional backgrounds independently reformatted SIPIs from ten post-mortem head CTs. Inter-rater, intra-rater agreement as well angular deviations between reformatted SIPI images and reference SIPI images were calculated.

Accuracy of non-contrast PMCT for determining cause of death.

The aim of this study was (1) to compare levels of accuracy regarding the categorization of causes of death between non-contrast post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) and the final forensic report as well as between autopsy and the final forensic report, and (2) to assess levels of confidence regarding the categorization of causes of death after non-contrast PMCT and after autopsy. This prospective study was conducted over a 5 month period during which 221 cases were admitted to our institute for forensic investigations. Whole-body PMCT and forensic autopsy were performed in every case.

Unexpected brain finding in pre-autopsy postmortem CT.

A case is presented in which pre-autopsy postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) revealed an unexpected brain abscess with a related frontal sinusitis and an erosion of the posterior wall of the frontal sinus. PMCT findings enabled the forensic pathologists to adapt protective measures during autopsy and protect their health from infection. Pre-autopsy PMCT has been also useful in the early differential diagnosis procedure.

Antemortem identification by fusion of MR and CT of the paranasal sinuses.

Radiologic forensic identification is usually performed by comparing antemortem and postmortem radiographs. While computed tomography (CT) has become a valuable addition to radiologic identification, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has only rarely been used for this purpose. In our case, identification was accomplished using fused MR- and CT images in a survivor of a gunshot injury to the head.

Differentiation of hemopericardium due to ruptured myocardial infarction or aortic dissection on unenhanced postmortem computed tomography.

The aim of the study was to evaluate unenhanced postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) in cases of non-traumatic hemopericardium by establishing the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of diagnostic criteria for the differentiation between aortic dissection and myocardial wall rupture due to infarction. Twenty six cases were identified as suitable for evaluation, of which ruptured aortic dissection could be identified as the underlying cause of hemopericardium in 50% of the cases, and myocardial wall rupture also in 50% of the cases. All cases underwent a PMCT and 24 of the cases also underwent one or more additional examinations: a subsequent autopsy, or a postmortem magnetic resonance (PMMR), or a PMCT angiography (PMCTA), or combinations of the above.

A new method for estimating patient body weight using CT dose modulation data.

Background: Body weight (BW) is a relevant metric in emergency care. However, visual/physical methods to estimate BW are unreliable. We have developed a method for estimating BW based on effective mAs (mAs) from computed tomography (CT) dose modulation.

Forensic 3D Visualization of CT Data Using Cinematic Volume Rendering: A Preliminary Study.

Objective: The 3D volume-rendering technique (VRT) is commonly used in forensic radiology. Its main function is to explain medical findings to state attorneys, judges, or police representatives. New visualization algorithms permit the generation of almost photorealistic volume renderings of CT datasets.

Automatic entry point planning for robotic post-mortem CT-based needle placement.

Introduction: Post-mortem computed tomography guided placement of co-axial introducer needles allows for the extraction of tissue and liquid samples for histological and toxicological analyses. Automation of this process can increase the accuracy and speed of the needle placement, thereby making it more feasible for routine examinations. To speed up the planning process and increase safety, we developed an algorithm that calculates an optimal entry point and end-effector orientation for a given target point, while taking constraints such as accessibility or bone collisions into account.

Pulmonary thromboembolism on unenhanced postmortem computed tomography: Feasibility and findings.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of diagnosing fatal pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) with unenhanced postmortem computed tomography (PMCT).

Materials And Methods: Twelve cases with autopsy confirmed PTE and matched controls (n=19) were retrospectively examined for PTE signs on PMCT. The following variables were evaluated: edema of the lower extremities (areal and Hounsfield Unit measurements) and observer dependent patterns of the morphology of the sedimentation in the pulmonary arteries and trunk.

Postmortem magnetic resonance imaging: Reproducing typical autopsy heart measurements.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of cardiac postmortem magnetic resonance (PMMR) to perform routine measurements of the ventricular wall thicknesses and the heart valves and to assess if imaging measurements are consistent with traditional autopsy measurements.

Methods: In this retrospective study, 25 cases with cardiac PMMR and subsequent autopsy were included. The thicknesses of the myocardial walls as well as the circumferences of all heart valves were measured on cardiac PMMR and compared to autopsy measurements.