Virtopsy and Living Individuals Evaluation Using Computed Tomography in Forensic Diagnostic Imaging

Area of Science:

• Forensic Radiology
• Medical Imaging
• Pathology

Background:

• Forensic radiology encompasses Virtopsy and studies on living individuals.
• Applications include bone age determination, foreign body detection, and injury assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the diverse applications of forensic radiology.
• To highlight the role of computed tomography in forensic pathology.

Main Methods:

• Review of forensic radiology applications.
• Emphasis on computed tomography (CT) in forensic investigations.

Main Results:

• Forensic radiology is used for bone age, foreign bodies (e.g., drug ovules, sponges), gunshot wounds, accidents, and abuse cases.
• Computed tomography is the primary imaging tool for unnatural deaths and suspected crimes.

Conclusions:

• CT is preferred over standard autopsy for decomposed, burned, or damaged bodies.
• CT serves as a preliminary evaluation tool in mass disaster scenarios.