Application Prospects of Virtual Autopsy in Forensic Pathological Investigations on COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Forensic Pathology
• Medical Imaging
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Autopsies are crucial for public health management of infectious diseases.
• COVID-19 limited traditional forensic autopsies, hindering disease understanding.
• Virtual autopsy presents a valuable alternative for examining infectious disease fatalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the relationship between imaging findings and pathology in COVID-19.
• To discuss the application of virtual autopsy in forensic examinations of infectious disease deaths.
• To provide a reference for utilizing virtual autopsy during infectious disease outbreaks.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on virtual autopsy and COVID-19.
• Analysis of imaging changes correlated with pathological findings.
• Discussion of virtual autopsy's role in forensic investigations.

Main Results:

• Virtual autopsy provides unique advantages for examining infectious disease cases.
• Accumulated virtual autopsy data can aid in studying COVID-19 pathology and diagnosis.
• Imaging data offers insights into disease progression and effects.

Conclusions:

• Virtual autopsy is a significant tool for forensic pathology in infectious disease outbreaks.
• It facilitates the study of disease mechanisms and aids diagnosis without traditional autopsy limitations.
• This approach offers valuable reference for future public health emergencies.