Post-mortem CT imaging of the lungs: pathological versus non-pathological findings

Nowadays, the modern computed tomography techniques are more and more applied in forensic investigations. The detection of abnormalities in post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) imaging of the lungs is very common. As in clinical imaging, also in post-mortem imaging the right interpretation of alterations has an extreme importance for the assessment of correct conclusions. This is even crucial when the radiologist who approaches the PMCT images is not routinely involved in forensic cases. The aim of this article is to provide radiologists who approach PMCT imaging cases with some indications for a proper and correct interpretation of pulmonary findings, to avoid misleading forensic conclusions. Particularly, the following issues will be addressed: PMCT imaging of post-mortem changes of the lungs; PMCT imaging of pathological lungs [(a) in thoracic trauma cases, (b) in cases without thoracic trauma]. Finally, the possible pitfalls in interpretation of PMCT imaging of the lungs will be also discussed.