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Adipocere in postmortem imaging using multislice computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Christian Jackowski1, Michael Thali, Martin Sonnenschein
1Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland. christian.jackowski@irm.unibe.ch
The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology
|November 24, 2005
Summary
Forensic virtopsy revealed adipocere formation in a decomposed body using advanced imaging. Multislice computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed characteristic changes, aiding identification after 13 months.
Area of Science:
- Forensic pathology
- Radiology
- Digital autopsy
Background:
- Adipocere, a postmortem alteration, forms in bodies submerged in water.
- Virtopsy (virtual autopsy) utilizes advanced imaging techniques for decomposition analysis.
- Accurate identification of decomposed remains is crucial in forensic investigations.
Observation:
- A 78-year-old male, missing for 13 months, was recovered from a river with extensive adipocere formation.
- The deceased was presumed to have died by drowning.
- Postmortem imaging was performed using multislice computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Findings:
- Adipocere tissue exhibited characteristic signal loss on MRI and hyperdensities (up to 1000 HU) on MSCT.
- Virtopsy allowed for detailed assessment of intracranial structures, surpassing traditional autopsy limitations.
- Imaging findings aided in the identification of the decomposed individual.
Implications:
- Advanced imaging in virtopsy provides valuable insights into adipocere formation and decomposition.
- MSCT and MRI can enhance the identification of remains in challenging forensic cases.
- This case highlights the utility of non-invasive imaging in forensic decomposition studies.