Virtual autopsy and forensic identification-practical application: a report of one case

Area of Science:

• Forensic Medicine
• Radiology
• Anthropology

Background:

• The case involves an unidentified elderly woman found deceased in a floodgate.
• Medico-legal investigations require accurate methods for determining cause of death and identifying remains.

Observation:

• Full-body multislice computed tomography (MSCT) was performed before autopsy.
• MSCT was utilized for examining bone lesions, estimating age, and identifying the cause of death.
• Age estimation involved analyzing the sternal end of the fourth rib and pubic symphyseal surfaces.

Findings:

• MSCT demonstrated superiority over autopsy in diagnosing traumatic bone lesions.
• MSCT revealed dental anomalies and provided evidence consistent with drowning.
• Age estimations derived from MSCT and autopsy were comparable.

Implications:

• MSCT offers significant potential for enhancing medico-legal death investigations.
• The technology aids in diagnosing injuries, determining cause of death, and performing anthropological studies for identification.
• MSCT can provide crucial data for identifying unknown corpses through anthropological analysis.