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Updated: Apr 23, 2026
Image Rendering Techniques in Postmortem Computed Tomography: Evaluation of Biological Health and Profile in Stranded Cetaceans
Published on: September 27, 2020
Indications, advantages and limitations of perinatal postmortem imaging in clinical practice
Owen J Arthurs1, Andrew M Taylor, Neil J Sebire
1Department of Radiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, Great Ormond Street, London, WC1N 3JH, UK, owen.arthurs@gosh.nhs.uk.
Insights
Postmortem imaging, including MRI, aids fetal and perinatal diagnoses. While postmortem MRI shows high sensitivity and specificity, its utility may evolve with less-invasive autopsy methods.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Pathology
- Perinatal Medicine
Background:
- Paediatric imaging techniques are widely used in live patients.
- A comparable range of imaging modalities is available for fetal and perinatal postmortem examinations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the literature on the diagnostic utility of postmortem radiography, ultrasound (US), CT, and MRI in fetal and perinatal examinations.
- To assess the effectiveness of these imaging techniques in postmortem diagnostics.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of diagnostic utility of postmortem radiography, US, CT, and MRI.
- Analysis of evidence supporting the use of these techniques in fetal and perinatal postmortem settings.
Main Results:
- Limited direct evidence exists for radiography, US, and CT in this context.
- Postmortem MRI, especially combined with other noninvasive investigations, demonstrates high sensitivity and specificity for many fetal postmortem diagnoses.
- Disadvantages of postmortem MRI include longer imaging duration, need for specialized interpretation training, and potential non-diagnostic results in early gestation.
Conclusions:
- Postmortem MRI is a valuable tool for fetal postmortem diagnosis, offering high accuracy.
- The evolving landscape of less-invasive autopsy will influence the future utility and development of clinical guidelines for these imaging techniques.
Abstract:
Just as there is a range of paediatric imaging techniques available during life, a similar repertoire is available as part of the foetal and perinatal postmortem examination. In this article, we review the literature regarding the diagnostic utility of postmortem radiography, US, CT and MRI in this clinical setting. There is limited direct evidence on the diagnostic utility of any of these techniques, apart from postmortem MRI, which when combined with other noninvasive investigations, has been shown to be highly sensitive and specific for many foetal postmortem diagnoses. The main disadvantages of postmortem MRI include the longer duration of imaging, the need for appropriate training in the interpretation of normal postmortem changes, and possible non-diagnostic imaging examinations in early gestation foetuses. As less-invasive autopsy becomes increasingly available, the true utility of these techniques will evolve, and clinical guidelines for maximal diagnostic yield can be developed.
