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Freezing effect on brain density in postmortem CT.

Miyu Sugimoto1, Hideki Hyodoh1, Masumi Rokukawa1

  • 1Department of Legal Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, S1 W17 Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan.

Legal Medicine (Tokyo, Japan)
|February 3, 2016
PubMed
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Dry ice used to preserve bodies before autopsy can cause a frozen effect in brain tissue, mimicking decomposition. This postmortem cooling requires careful evaluation to prevent misinterpretation during forensic examinations.

Area of Science:

  • Forensic Pathology
  • Medical Imaging
  • Postmortem Examination

Background:

  • Deterioration of bodies due to putrefaction is a common challenge in forensic investigations.
  • Preservation techniques are often employed to mitigate decomposition before autopsy.
  • Dry ice is a readily available cooling agent used for short-term preservation.

Observation:

  • Two cases involved 60-year-old males found deceased at home with significant putrefaction.
  • Dry ice was applied to the bodies prior to autopsy to prevent further deterioration and insect infestation.
  • Postmortem CT scans revealed decreased brain parenchyma density on the side treated with dry ice.

Findings:

  • Autopsy confirmed a "frozen effect" in the deteriorated brain parenchyma, described as sherbet-like.
Keywords:
Forensic radiologyFreezing effectLow densityPostmortem CTPostmortem change

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  • Despite deterioration, the cerebral parenchyma maintained structural integrity, allowing for cutting and evaluation.
  • The observed low CT density correlated with the freezing effect caused by dry ice application.

    • Implications:

    • Reduced CT density in postmortem imaging may indicate a freezing effect rather than advanced decomposition.
    • Forensic pathologists and radiologists must consider the impact of preservation methods on imaging findings.
    • Accurate interpretation of postmortem CT requires careful evaluation of the cadaver's condition and any interventions performed.