Veterinary forensic radiology–Development of a cost-effective and easily performed post mortem computed tomographic angiography protocol

Abstract

In human forensic medicine, post mortem computed tomography angiography (PMCTA) is routinely utilised in investigations with known superiority for the detection of musculoskeletal and vascular pathology compared to necropsy. In veterinary medicine, there is currently no published PMCTA technique for dogs and cats that is repeatable and can be routinely performed in a referral veterinary hospital. The aim of this study was to develop a veterinary PMCTA protocol that was easy to perform, affordable and requires little additional equipment beyond what is found in a referral veterinary hospital.

This study shows PMCTA can be performed using iohexol mixed with a polyethylene glycol adjuvant and administered via a power pump injector and was successfully demonstrated in 5 dogs and 7 cats.

The cause of death determined from necropsy and PMCTA agreed in 83% of cases and 42%, the cause of death determined on PMCTA was aided by the administration of contrast. PMCTA outperformed necropsy in the detection of neurological and musculoskeletal pathology, detecting 3.3 times more pathologies. The establishment of an easy-to-perform and affordable PMCTA protocol gives scope for PMCTA use to become widespread in veterinary post mortem investigations, improving the efficiency of post-mortem evaluation.