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Hepatic portal venous gas and hyper-dense aortic wall as postmortem computed tomography finding
Kentaro Yamazaki1, Seiji Shiotani, Noriyoshi Ohashi
1Tsukuba Medical Examiner's Office, 3-1 Amakubo 1-chome, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8558, Japan. yamazaki@tmch.or.jp
Legal Medicine (Tokyo, Japan)
|August 26, 2003
Summary
Postmortem CT scans can reveal hepatic portal venous gas and hyperdense aortic walls. Autopsy findings in these cases suggest links to abdominal injury, circulatory issues, or postmortem changes.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Radiology
- Pathology
Background:
- Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) aids in determining cause of death.
- Postmortem biological conditions differ significantly from living individuals.
- Common PMCT findings like hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) and hyperdense aortic wall (HDAW) may lack clear autopsy correlation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare PMCT findings with autopsy results.
- To investigate the causes of HPVG and HDAW observed in PMCT.
Main Methods:
- PMCT was performed on 12 autopsy cases (8 natural deaths, 4 unnatural deaths).
- PMCT findings were correlated with detailed autopsy examinations.
Main Results:
- HPVG was observed in 5 cases, associated with visceral abdominal injury, bowel distention, or circulatory dysfunction.
- HDAW was observed in 7 cases, linked to atherosclerosis, dehydration, or increased blood viscosity due to postmortem changes.
Conclusions:
- Autopsy findings provide insights into the causes of HPVG and HDAW seen on PMCT.
- While precise causes remain under investigation, PMCT findings can be explained by postmortem physiological and pathological changes.