[Virtual autopsy--why not?]

The number of autopsies carried out by pathologists is decreasing. This is worrying, as evaluation has shown 10-20% of autopsies result in findings which could have influenced the course and treatment of the disease if they had been known about in time. Post-mortem imaging or virtual autopsy may be an alternative. However, a number of practical matters have to be taken into consideration before virtual autopsy becomes widely-accepted practice. These include availability of a CT scanner on request, the logistics of complex procedures on the deceased, new forms of expertise, co-operation between pathologist and radiologist, and financing.