Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026
Tissue Preparation Techniques for Contrast-Enhanced Micro Computed Tomography Imaging of Large Mammalian Cardiac Models with Chronic Disease
Published on: February 8, 2022
Heart wall is thicker on postmortem computed tomography than on antemortem [corrected] computed tomography: the first
Hidemi Okuma1, Wataru Gonoi, Masanori Ishida
1Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Insights
Postmortem computed tomography (CT) reveals a thicker heart wall compared to ante mortem CT (AMCT) in the same individuals. These postmortem changes in heart wall thickness were supported by pathological findings.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Forensic Pathology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Accurate assessment of cardiac morphology is crucial in both clinical and forensic settings.
- Understanding postmortem changes in imaging is essential for reliable interpretation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare heart wall thickness on postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) with ante mortem CT (AMCT) in the same patients.
- To validate PMCT findings against pathological autopsy results.
Main Methods:
- A study of 57 patients who underwent AMCT, PMCT, and autopsy.
- Cardiac chambers were measured at five sites by radiologists.
- Statistical analysis compared AMCT, PMCT, and pathological measurements.
Main Results:
- Heart walls were significantly thicker on PMCT than AMCT (p < 0.0001).
- PMCT measurements were thicker than pathological specimens using standard mensuration.
- No significant difference was found when including papillary muscles and epicardial fat.
Conclusions:
- This study confirms increased heart wall thickness on PMCT compared to AMCT in the same patients.
- Postmortem CT findings for heart wall thickness are supported by pathological evidence.
Objective:
To evaluate the postmortem changes of the heart wall on postmortem (PM) computed tomography (CT) in comparison with those on ante mortem CT (AMCT), and in comparison with the pathological findings, obtained in the same patients.
Materials And Methods:
We studied 57 consecutive patients who had undergone AMCT, PMCT, and pathological autopsy in our tertiary care hospital between April 2009 and December 2010. PMCT was performed within 20 hours after death, followed by pathological autopsy. The cardiac chambers were measured at five sites on both AMCT and PMCT by two board-certified radiologists who were not provided with clinical information. The differences in heart wall thickness between AMCT with and without contrast medium, between AMCT and PMCT, and between PMCT and pathological anatomy were evaluated statistically. Confounding factors of postmortem change such as gender, presence of arteriosclerosis, the organ related to cause of death, age, and elapsed time since death were examined statistically.
Results:
No significant differences were observed on AMCT in comparison of contrasted and non-contrasted images. The heart wall was significantly thicker on PMCT than on AMCT (p < 0.0001) at all five measurement sites. The heart wall was significantly thicker on PMCT than on pathology specimens when measured in accordance with pathological standard mensuration. However, no significant difference was observed between PMCT measurements and those of pathology specimens at any site when the papillary muscles and epicardial fat were included. No significant association was found between postmortem change in heart wall thickness and gender, presence of arteriosclerosis, the organ related to cause of death, age, or elapsed time since death.
Conclusion:
This is the first longitudinal study to confirm greater thickness of heart wall on postmortem images compared with ante mortem images, in the same patients. Furthermore, the postmortem changes on CT were supported by the pathological findings.
More Related Videos
08:13In Vivo Quantitative Assessment of Myocardial Structure, Function, Perfusion and Viability Using Cardiac Micro-computed Tomography
Published on: February 16, 2016
09:05Assessment of Cardiac Morphological and Functional Changes in Mouse Model of Transverse Aortic Constriction by Echocardiographic Imaging
Published on: June 21, 2016
Related Concept Videos
01:28Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT
01:20Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System III: X-Ray
Definition and Purpose
An X-ray, or radiograph, is a non-invasive method that uses ionizing radiation to take images of internal structures. It is mainly used in cardiac imaging to examine the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels, aiming to identify abnormalities in the heart's size, shape, and position, such as heart failure, congenital defects, and vascular...