Forensic Imaging最新文献

This study reports an approach for forensic anthropological sex estimation by examining the mastoid process in Koreans using three-dimensionally reconstructed computed tomography images of skulls. The purpose was to validate this metric sex estimation method using only the mastoid process in a Korean population compared to a non-metric sex estimation method derived from a previously used non-Korean method. In this study, 661 images were gathered and 100 of these were randomly set aside for use in the non-metric method. We then applied our metric analysis to the remaining 561 images. Our findings showed that the volume of the mastoid process in males was greater than that in females. As a result, using the mastoid process volume in a metric method increased the accuracy of sex estimation by 20% compared to that using the non-metric method. Our metric methods for sex estimation are more applicable to skulls found in Korea than to those from non-Korean populations, and the metric methods for sex estimation are more useful than non-metric methods. In future studies, it is necessary to derive new equations from measurements of the glabella, mental eminence, supraorbital margin, and nuchal crest for Korean skulls; this method contributes to increased accuracy and reliability of sex estimation using Korean skulls.

Professor N.I. Pirogov (1810–1881) was an anatomist, physician, and one of the founders of modern surgery and anesthesiology. His body was embalmed after his death. In 2018, re-embalming of Pirogov's body was carried out, during which a full-body post-mortem CT scan was performed to detect pathological changes and the degree of tissue preservation of the embalmed body. The CT scan revealed ante-mortem changes as well as post-mortem changes in the body of Pirogov. Among the notable ante-mortem changes were pathologies such as a defect in the palatine bone and maxillary sinus, which were most likely a result of cancerous processes, or minor spinal deformities. Calcifications were detected in the brain tissue and the walls of some vessels. Some of these observed pathological changes suggest that N.I. Pirogov was a heavy smoker, and other degenerative changes are typical for advanced age. The post-mortem changes were caused by the processes connected to embalming procedures. The organs of the chest were collapsed, and gas content was detected in some hollow visceral formations. Reduced mineralization of some skeletal elements, such as the vertebrae, humeri, clavicles, sternum, and selected ribs, as well as the hand phalanges, and the lower limb bones, was most likely caused by the contact with the embalming fluid. Some of the further post-mortem changes, such as detection of gauze material in the oral cavity, neck, and abdominal cavity, confirmed the method of primary embalming and subsequent preservation and research interventions performed on the body over the years. The findings also confirmed that the body was in a good state of preservation.

The purpose of this study was to perform linear (two-dimensional) measurements of maxillary sinuses (MS) using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images, analyze the influence of sex, age, skin color, and nutritional status, and verify differences between the right and left sides. The sample consisted of CBCT images of 238 living Brazilian subjects (139 women and 99 men). Linear measurements of maximal height, width, and depth of the right and left MS were performed with the DDS-Pro® 2.12.0_2021 software (DPP Systems, Czestochowa, Poland). All data were submitted to the statistical analysis to validate potential significant differences (p > 0.05) for sex and age and correlation to skin color and BMI. The TEM, rTEM, and R were used for intra- and inter-examiner assessments. There were differences between the sides, with significantly higher measurements on the right side for MS height and on the left side for width and depth. The MS width was only greater (p > 0.05) in men. Adult individuals (18 years or older) had higher MS height measurements than the other age groups. The measurements for skin color and BMI did not show significant differences, and it was impossible to confirm a relationship between the parameters measured. The measurements of MS height and width showed significant differences between the right and left sides and anatomic variability between the sexes for MS width, which can help analyze sexual dimorphism. There were also significant differences between the age groups. There was no significant difference in the measurements for skin color and nutritional status.

It is well documented that COVID-19 vaccines are effective tools for limiting the pandemic. Unfortunately, as is true for all vaccines, SARS-CoV-2 infection in vaccinated individuals is still possible.

We present an autopsy case of SARS-CoV-2 infection after vaccination (“breakthrough infection”) in an elderly man with several comorbidities where post-mortem CT scan was performed. The death was histologically attributed to cardio-respiratory arrest due to ischemic heart failure related to superinfected COVID-19 pneumonia and pre-existing comorbidities. For the first time in the literature, PMCT imaging related to a fatal, autopsy case of breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection is reported. PMCT of the lungs, in accordance with histopathological results, showed few signs of COVID-19 pneumonia, large area of consolidation in the right lower lobe, interpreted as bronco-pneumonic focus, and hypostasis.

These findings were well-correlated with the previously reported literature about both PMCT and clinical CT imaging of the lungs in non-vaccinated individuals with early COVID-19 pneumonia and about pulmonary clinical CT imaging in COVID-19 pneumonia in breakthrough SARS-COV-2 infections.

Further studies are needed to cover the whole spectrum of PMCT lung imaging in fatal breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection, however, this case represent a first step for exploring this difficult challenge during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic using virtual autopsy.

Skeletal trauma analysis often involves the assessment of the types and patterns of fractures, followed by categorizing the trauma into one of several broad “mechanisms.” Trauma analysis ideally also involves understanding the underlying mechanistic basis for the bone's failure. Beveling in bone is one example of a fracture pattern that is often cited as evidence of a high-velocity projectile impact, but appears to be poorly understood in terms of both the mechanism for bevel production as well as the loading conditions responsible for its formation. It has recently been demonstrated that bone beveling results from a failure mechanism called cone cracking, which is also associated with lower velocity impacts. Many case reviews and instructional texts include imagery of beveled bone in association with projectile impacts, but present various other explanations (or no explanation) for the fracture mechanism responsible. Five cases are presented here involving cone cracking in human forensic cases. For each case, the associated fracture patterns are discussed, photographic and micro-CT imagery are shown, and a review of the cone crack is presented in cross-section. The diagnostic utility of CT examination of ambiguous perforations is also highlighted.

Objectives

Histological age-estimation relies on cortical bone quantification, but trabecularization of the cortex complicates reliable age estimation. This research aims to quantify and assess the role of age changes in the 3D trabecular structure of the human rib.

Materials and Methods

High-resolution computed tomography was used to visualize internal rib microstructure and explore age-related trabecular change in male human ribs ranging in age from 20–95 years (Mean=55 years, SD=21.634 years). Two regions of interest (ROIs), midshaft (50%) and anterior (75%) were extracted from each scan to analyze age-related trabecular change. Dragonfly V4.1 was used to isolate cortical bone volumes of interest (VOIs) and three trabecular VOIs for each ROI; one each along the cutaneous cortex, the center of the medullary cavity, and the pleural cortex. Each trabecular VOI was analyzed for bone volume fraction (BV/TV), trabecular thickness (TbTh), trabecular spacing (TbSp), connectivity density (Conn.D), and degree of anisotropy (DA), within and between the 50 and 75% ROIs.

Results and Conclusions

Overall, the cutaneous VOIs at both the 50% and 75% regions exhibited greater BV/TV, TbTh, and Conn.D when compared to the center and pleural VOIs. All results are consistent with expected biomechanical strain on human ribs. Both trabecular variables and cortical bone volume are moderately associated with age. These results show that 3D analysis of trabecular bone volume in specific regions can improve visualization or understanding of trabecular bone changes with age over traditional 2D methods.

Objectives

Over the last decades interest has grown in the use of virtual autopsy through PMCT as an adjunct or alternative to the invasive autopsy.

Health technology assessment (HTA) is currently one of the major challenges in assessing medical innovations and healthcare systems.

This paper is focused on HTA applied to unenhanced PMCT with the aim to evaluate the impact of this technology in forensic investigations with particular focus on Italy.

Materials and methods

In this paper EUnetHTA Core Model individual domains were applied to unenhanced PMCT virtual autopsy.

Results

This is the first pilot HTA report using the HTA Core Model regarding virtual autopsy. Virtual autopsy provides many advantages in comparison to traditional autopsy such as the reduction of infection risk, guidance for subsequent autopsy, and moreover allows archiving of data that can be viewed and analyzed in the future by various experts.

PMCT can add important information to traditional autopsy and in selected cases, has been proposed as a replacement for classical autopsy, the current gold standard.

Conclusions

Unenhanced PMCT is a valuable technique in terms of advantages provided, also considering added costs. Based on the results of our analysis, we recommend a larger introduction of this technology in forensic investigations. The greatest benefits are expected after the implementation of dedicated CT scans for post-mortem examinations, that would simplify workflow and the management of cadavers. Thus, we recommend a significant inclusion of PMCT in forensic investigations.

Objectives

Main objective was to determine the probability at 16-year age threshold by using unilateral second and third developing mandibular molars in a group of Sri Lankan children. The above threshold is one of the specific ages for children in Sri Lanka legislature.

Methods & Materials

This retrospective cross sectional study used 783 Orthopantomographs (385 males and 398 females) of Sri Lankan children and young adults ranging in age from 8.00 to 24.99 years both males and females and analysed based on Demirjian maturity stages A to H. The Mean (SD) age of assessments to the different Demirjian stages for two molars were calculated using SPSS. The probability assessment for a child being reached the 16-year threshold was calculated using NORMDIST function in Excel. The validity was tested on a validation sample of 50 males and 50 females. Third molar comparison of mean ages of assessments to Demirjian stages was done with other population studies.

Results

The Mean and (SD) in the reference sample was 15.02(3.77) years for males 15.51(4.98) years for females. The probability estimates correctly identified individuals above or below the reference age was 93% and only 7% was identified incorrectly.

Conclusion

This study has confirmed that the second and third molars in the mandible can reliably be used to determine the probability at 16-year threshold. The Mean (SD) ages of assessment to corresponding Demirjian stages from D to H of third mandibular molar in the present study are fairly compatible with that of ABFO study of Mincer et al. which is widely used as a reference data for Forensic age estimation procedure in Sri Lanka.