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False positive aortic dissection on postmortem computed tomography.
Isabelle Le Blanc-Louvry1, Sophie Thureau1, Kathy Ledoux1
1Department of Forensic Medicine, Rouen University Hospital-Charles Nicolle, 1 rue de Germont, 76031 Rouen Cedex, France.
Forensic Science International
|July 14, 2015
Summary
Post-mortem CT-scans (PMCT) can misdiagnose aortic dissection due to normal postmortem changes. Autopsies revealed these findings were artifactual, highlighting the need for careful interpretation in forensic radiology.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Radiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Post-mortem CT-scan (PMCT) is a valuable diagnostic tool in forensic investigations.
- Interpreting PMCT requires distinguishing between true pathology and postmortem artifacts.
Observation:
- Two cases presented with false positive DeBakey type I aortic dissection on non-contrast PMCT.
- Autopsies confirmed the CT findings were artifactual, not true aortic dissections.
Findings:
- Normal postmortem changes can mimic serious pathologies like aortic dissection on PMCT.
- The false positives were attributed to specific artifactual abnormalities observed during autopsy.
Implications:
- Radiologists must be aware of potential artifacts in PMCT that can lead to misdiagnosis.
- Combining PMCT with other techniques, such as opacification, may improve diagnostic accuracy for aortic pathology.
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