Pub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-04-25DOI: 10.1016/j.fri.2025.200635
Jamie Elifritz , Heather Jarrell , Fabrice Dedouit , Laura Filograna , ISFRI guidelines Working Group
Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) has emerged as a valuable tool in forensic investigations, supporting the investigation of suspected overdoses. While not specific, Cerebral edema, pulmonary edema, and urinary bladder distention (the overdose triad) can suggest overdose in unsuspected cases. Furthermore, a high-density basal layer in the stomach may indicate intentional therapeutic medical overdose. Challenges include short agonal intervals and decomposition changes. Confirmatory blood toxicology is necessary. Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) can play a role in differentiation of material contributing to dense basal layers and body packing scenarios. PMCT serves as a valuable complement to autopsy findings, aiding in the assessment of internal pathology while also offering a non-invasive alternative in specific forensic contexts where autopsy may not be performed.
{"title":"ISFRI Guidelines Working Group: Best practice standards for non-contrast postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) of overdose","authors":"Jamie Elifritz , Heather Jarrell , Fabrice Dedouit , Laura Filograna , ISFRI guidelines Working Group","doi":"10.1016/j.fri.2025.200635","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fri.2025.200635","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) has emerged as a valuable tool in forensic investigations, supporting the investigation of suspected overdoses. While not specific, Cerebral edema, pulmonary edema, and urinary bladder distention (the overdose triad) can suggest overdose in unsuspected cases. Furthermore, a high-density basal layer in the stomach may indicate intentional therapeutic medical overdose. Challenges include short agonal intervals and decomposition changes. Confirmatory blood toxicology is necessary. Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) can play a role in differentiation of material contributing to dense basal layers and body packing scenarios. PMCT serves as a valuable complement to autopsy findings, aiding in the assessment of internal pathology while also offering a non-invasive alternative in specific forensic contexts where autopsy may not be performed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":40763,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Imaging","volume":"42 ","pages":"Article 200635"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144535010","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-07-14DOI: 10.1016/j.fri.2025.200643
Jamie Elifritz , Micillo Andrea , Fabrice Dedouit , Laura Filograna
Overdose deaths, particularly from opioids and synthetic analogs, continue to rise globally. While some cases present with overt indicators, others lack external signs, complicating initial investigation. Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) has emerged as a valuable adjunct in these cases, offering radiologic features that may suggest overdose and support triage, even in unsuspected deaths. Characteristic findings—such as cerebral edema, pulmonary edema, and urinary bladder distention—comprise the so-called “overdose triad,” which demonstrates high specificity for overdose-related fatalities. PMCT also detects ancillary features including findings related to pill fragments, signs of body packing, and hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage. In overdose investigations, PMCT’s high negative predictive value helps exclude internal trauma and skeletal injuries, guiding case management and informing decisions on the necessity for full autopsy. While PMCT findings are not pathognomonic and may be absent in rapidly fatal intoxications, the technique offers considerable value, particularly when integrated with toxicological analysis and full autopsy. The International Society of Forensic Radiology and Imaging (ISFRI) supports the standardized use of PMCT in suspected overdose deaths as part of a comprehensive forensic approach.
{"title":"White paper by the international society of forensic imaging guidelines working group on non-contrast PMCT for decomposed remains","authors":"Jamie Elifritz , Micillo Andrea , Fabrice Dedouit , Laura Filograna","doi":"10.1016/j.fri.2025.200643","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fri.2025.200643","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Overdose deaths, particularly from opioids and synthetic analogs, continue to rise globally. While some cases present with overt indicators, others lack external signs, complicating initial investigation. Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) has emerged as a valuable adjunct in these cases, offering radiologic features that may suggest overdose and support triage, even in unsuspected deaths. Characteristic findings—such as cerebral edema, pulmonary edema, and urinary bladder distention—comprise the so-called “overdose triad,” which demonstrates high specificity for overdose-related fatalities. PMCT also detects ancillary features including findings related to pill fragments, signs of body packing, and hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage. In overdose investigations, PMCT’s high negative predictive value helps exclude internal trauma and skeletal injuries, guiding case management and informing decisions on the necessity for full autopsy. While PMCT findings are not pathognomonic and may be absent in rapidly fatal intoxications, the technique offers considerable value, particularly when integrated with toxicological analysis and full autopsy. The International Society of Forensic Radiology and Imaging (ISFRI) supports the standardized use of PMCT in suspected overdose deaths as part of a comprehensive forensic approach.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":40763,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Imaging","volume":"42 ","pages":"Article 200643"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144739509","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-05-15DOI: 10.1016/j.fri.2025.200632
Jamie Elifritz , Chris O’Donnell , Garyfalia Ampanozi , Thomas Ruder , Lenetta Boyce , Natasha Davendralingam , Maarja Mölder , Laura Filograna , ISFRI Guideline Working Group
{"title":"ISFRI guidelines working group: best practice standards for non-contrast postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) of adults","authors":"Jamie Elifritz , Chris O’Donnell , Garyfalia Ampanozi , Thomas Ruder , Lenetta Boyce , Natasha Davendralingam , Maarja Mölder , Laura Filograna , ISFRI Guideline Working Group","doi":"10.1016/j.fri.2025.200632","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fri.2025.200632","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":40763,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Imaging","volume":"42 ","pages":"Article 200632"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144513986","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"ISFRI guidelines working group: best practice standards for non-contrast postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) of blunt force trauma","authors":"Jamie Elifritz , Garyfalia Ampanozi , Ludo Beenen , Laura Filograna","doi":"10.1016/j.fri.2025.200630","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fri.2025.200630","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":40763,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Imaging","volume":"42 ","pages":"Article 200630"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144595797","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Forensic anthropometry focuses on the precise measurement and analysis of human skeletal elements, which is crucial for constructing biological profiles in forensic investigations. This examination specifically looks at the forensic applications of the sternum, concentrating on its role in estimating sex, stature, and age.
Method
The review emphasizes the importance of the combined length of the manubrium and sternal body for accurate estimations of sex and stature, particularly in challenging cases. It explores age estimation based on morphological changes and ossification patterns, noting promising results from some studies. The examination also discusses the integration of digital tools such as 3D imaging and advanced morphometric software to enhance the precision and reliability of sternum-based analyses.
Results
The review highlights the sternum’s benefits for estimating sex and stature, as well as the potential for age estimation. Despite the recognized advantages, it points out gaps in the current research, particularly the lack of studies on ancestry estimation.
Conclusion
The review offers a thorough overview of the sternum’s forensic value and calls for ongoing research to improve accuracy and broaden its application. It underscores the evolving importance of forensic anthropometry, emphasizing how technological advancements are revolutionizing the analysis of skeletal remains and expanding the capabilities of forensic investigators. The findings highlight the necessity of continued research and innovation in refining sternum-based identification methods for forensic and anthropological applications.
{"title":"The sternum as a key to identity: enhancing biological profiling in forensic science","authors":"Sushobhita Singh , Pallavi Kumari , Tejasvi Pandey","doi":"10.1016/j.fri.2025.200640","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fri.2025.200640","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>Forensic anthropometry focuses on the precise measurement and analysis of human skeletal elements, which is crucial for constructing biological profiles in forensic investigations. This examination specifically looks at the forensic applications of the sternum, concentrating on its role in estimating sex, stature, and age.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>The review emphasizes the importance of the combined length of the manubrium and sternal body for accurate estimations of sex and stature, particularly in challenging cases. It explores age estimation based on morphological changes and ossification patterns, noting promising results from some studies. The examination also discusses the integration of digital tools such as 3D imaging and advanced morphometric software to enhance the precision and reliability of sternum-based analyses.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The review highlights the sternum’s benefits for estimating sex and stature, as well as the potential for age estimation. Despite the recognized advantages, it points out gaps in the current research, particularly the lack of studies on ancestry estimation.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The review offers a thorough overview of the sternum’s forensic value and calls for ongoing research to improve accuracy and broaden its application. It underscores the evolving importance of forensic anthropometry, emphasizing how technological advancements are revolutionizing the analysis of skeletal remains and expanding the capabilities of forensic investigators. The findings highlight the necessity of continued research and innovation in refining sternum-based identification methods for forensic and anthropological applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":40763,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Imaging","volume":"42 ","pages":"Article 200640"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144280119","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-05-08DOI: 10.1016/j.fri.2025.200634
Natasha Davendralingam , Ludo Beenen , Jamie Elifritz , Yohsuke Makino , Laura Filograna , ISFRI Guideline Working Group
{"title":"ISFRI guidelines working group: Best practice standards for non-contrast postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) investigations of medical treatment and in-hospital deaths","authors":"Natasha Davendralingam , Ludo Beenen , Jamie Elifritz , Yohsuke Makino , Laura Filograna , ISFRI Guideline Working Group","doi":"10.1016/j.fri.2025.200634","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fri.2025.200634","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":40763,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Imaging","volume":"42 ","pages":"Article 200634"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144513984","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-04-26DOI: 10.1016/j.fri.2025.200636
Chris O’Donnell , Jamie Elifritz , Laura Filograna
{"title":"White paper by the international society of forensic imaging guidelines working group on non-contrast PMCT for SCUBA-related fatalities","authors":"Chris O’Donnell , Jamie Elifritz , Laura Filograna","doi":"10.1016/j.fri.2025.200636","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fri.2025.200636","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":40763,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Imaging","volume":"42 ","pages":"Article 200636"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144513983","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-05-29DOI: 10.1016/j.fri.2025.200638
Apameh Khatam-Lashgari , Sara Tangmose Larsen , Mette Lønstrup Harving , Niels Lynnerup , Chiara Villa
Age is crucial for constructing a biological profile to match data from missing persons in Disaster Victim Identification (DVI). For adolescents and young adults, methods often rely on bone end closures. Post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) is a reliable tool for forensic age estimation in DVI cases. This study aimed to develop reference material for estimating the age of deceased adolescents and young adults using PMCT of the knee and clavicle in a Danish population. Results from the knee and clavicle were compared, and decision trees were created for final age estimates based on various bone combinations. The study included 221 individuals (57 females, 164 males) aged 10-25 years who underwent PMCT before medico-legal autopsy. Using the staging method by Schmeling et al. and Kellinghaus et al. ossification in the distal femoral, proximal tibial, proximal fibular, and medial clavicular epiphyses were evaluated. Large age intervals were observed for all bone stages, except for the earliest and latest clavicle stages. The clavicle stage distribution correlated well with chronological age, and reference values were consistent with previous studies. Individuals of younger age exhibited higher knee-bone stages than clavicle stages. Decision trees indicated that age intervals could be narrowed by combining clavicle stages with femur and fibula stages, though caution is required when intervals are too narrow. This study provides reference material for forensic age estimation in adolescents and young adults using PMCT of the knee and clavicle, relevant in DVI cases where limited body parts are available for analysis.
{"title":"Forensic age estimation of the knee and clavicle using post-mortem CT","authors":"Apameh Khatam-Lashgari , Sara Tangmose Larsen , Mette Lønstrup Harving , Niels Lynnerup , Chiara Villa","doi":"10.1016/j.fri.2025.200638","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fri.2025.200638","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Age is crucial for constructing a biological profile to match data from missing persons in Disaster Victim Identification (DVI). For adolescents and young adults, methods often rely on bone end closures. Post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) is a reliable tool for forensic age estimation in DVI cases. This study aimed to develop reference material for estimating the age of deceased adolescents and young adults using PMCT of the knee and clavicle in a Danish population. Results from the knee and clavicle were compared, and decision trees were created for final age estimates based on various bone combinations. The study included 221 individuals (57 females, 164 males) aged 10-25 years who underwent PMCT before medico-legal autopsy. Using the staging method by Schmeling et al. and Kellinghaus et al. ossification in the distal femoral, proximal tibial, proximal fibular, and medial clavicular epiphyses were evaluated. Large age intervals were observed for all bone stages, except for the earliest and latest clavicle stages. The clavicle stage distribution correlated well with chronological age, and reference values were consistent with previous studies. Individuals of younger age exhibited higher knee-bone stages than clavicle stages. Decision trees indicated that age intervals could be narrowed by combining clavicle stages with femur and fibula stages, though caution is required when intervals are too narrow. This study provides reference material for forensic age estimation in adolescents and young adults using PMCT of the knee and clavicle, relevant in DVI cases where limited body parts are available for analysis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":40763,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Imaging","volume":"42 ","pages":"Article 200638"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144203060","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-06-30DOI: 10.1016/j.fri.2025.200642
Joël Fehr , Astrid Kurmann , Philippe Handschin , Ampanozi Garyfalia , Sabine Franckenberg , Raffael Golomingi , Till Sieberth , Lars C. Ebert , Akos Dobay
Purpose
Computed tomography (CT) has become a widely adopted and standard procedure as an adjunct to autopsies in numerous countries. However, owing to the high number of cases and the limited availability of skilled practitioners, the need to streamline the diagnostic process has spurred the advancement of automated solutions. These solutions leverage deep learning methodologies to potentially automate diagnoses by analyzing postmortem CT data. Here, we show how deep learning techniques enable segmentation and volume evaluation to be concurrently performed for six basic thoracic and abdominal organs in postmortem CT data: the heart, lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys, and urinary bladder. Based on these automated volumetric estimations we automatically derived the weight of the heart, lungs, liver, spleen, and kidneys.
Methods
We developed a convolutional neural network tailored for conducting volumetric data segmentation in postmortem computed tomography images based on the U-Net architecture.
Results
Our best model achieved an overall Dice score (F1 score) of 0.907±0.029. The heart, lung, and liver yielded higher scores than did the spleen, kidneys, and urinary bladder. We also automated the weight calculation of the heart, lungs, liver, spleen, and kidneys.
Conclusion
Our study demonstrated that a convolution neural network such as U-Net could reliably estimate concurrently the volumes of six basic thoracic and abdominal organs from postmortem CT data. Our study also shows how this information can be subsequently used to automatically estimate their weight. However, post- and perimortem changes pose substantial challenges for automatically processing postmortem CT data.
{"title":"Automated volumetric estimation of six basic thoracic and abdominal organs in postmortem computed tomography data using deep learning techniques","authors":"Joël Fehr , Astrid Kurmann , Philippe Handschin , Ampanozi Garyfalia , Sabine Franckenberg , Raffael Golomingi , Till Sieberth , Lars C. Ebert , Akos Dobay","doi":"10.1016/j.fri.2025.200642","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fri.2025.200642","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>Computed tomography (CT) has become a widely adopted and standard procedure as an adjunct to autopsies in numerous countries. However, owing to the high number of cases and the limited availability of skilled practitioners, the need to streamline the diagnostic process has spurred the advancement of automated solutions. These solutions leverage deep learning methodologies to potentially automate diagnoses by analyzing postmortem CT data. Here, we show how deep learning techniques enable segmentation and volume evaluation to be concurrently performed for six basic thoracic and abdominal organs in postmortem CT data: the heart, lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys, and urinary bladder. Based on these automated volumetric estimations we automatically derived the weight of the heart, lungs, liver, spleen, and kidneys.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We developed a convolutional neural network tailored for conducting volumetric data segmentation in postmortem computed tomography images based on the U-Net architecture.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Our best model achieved an overall Dice score (F<sub>1</sub> score) of 0.907±0.029. The heart, lung, and liver yielded higher scores than did the spleen, kidneys, and urinary bladder. We also automated the weight calculation of the heart, lungs, liver, spleen, and kidneys.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Our study demonstrated that a convolution neural network such as U-Net could reliably estimate concurrently the volumes of six basic thoracic and abdominal organs from postmortem CT data. Our study also shows how this information can be subsequently used to automatically estimate their weight. However, post- and perimortem changes pose substantial challenges for automatically processing postmortem CT data.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":40763,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Imaging","volume":"42 ","pages":"Article 200642"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144579206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-07-19DOI: 10.1016/j.fri.2025.200645
Maria Jaqueline Mamprim , Sheila Canevese Rahal , Jeana Pereira da Silva , Jair Theodoro Filho , Gabriela Montezel Frigerio , Paulo Hilário Nascimento Saldiva , Isabela Cristina de Souza Marques , Ricardo Shoiti Ichikawa
This study aimed to describe the findings of post-mortem CT in three adult giant anteaters. The first animal was found with paraparesis of the hind limbs in a rural area and rescued by a fire brigade. CT of the thoracic spine showed malalignment with a fracture-dislocation of T15. The fracture of T15 was compressive and there was a moderate narrowing of the spinal canal. The death was likely due to a spinal cord injury. The second animal was found unconscious in a rural area and rescued by the municipal guard. A CT scan revealed a significant increase in volume that extended to the submandibular and ventral upper cervical region with the presence of gas and a low-density core. Additionally, the right tympanic cavity was filled with material of soft tissue density. The animal likely died due to a severe neck infection. The third animal was in a rural area with body wounds. The CT scan showed an increase in muscle volume in the hind limbs with the presence of gaseous content. There was a loss of definition of the abdominal wall and the presence of free intraperitoneal gas. The death was attributed to the heavily infected and deep skin wounds, possibly leading to peritonitis. The post-mortem CT findings were valuable in identifying lesions and determining the cause of death in the three giant anteaters. The sensitivity of the post-mortem exam could be increased by including other imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging.
{"title":"Postmortem computed tomography imaging in giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla)","authors":"Maria Jaqueline Mamprim , Sheila Canevese Rahal , Jeana Pereira da Silva , Jair Theodoro Filho , Gabriela Montezel Frigerio , Paulo Hilário Nascimento Saldiva , Isabela Cristina de Souza Marques , Ricardo Shoiti Ichikawa","doi":"10.1016/j.fri.2025.200645","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fri.2025.200645","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to describe the findings of post-mortem CT in three adult giant anteaters. The first animal was found with paraparesis of the hind limbs in a rural area and rescued by a fire brigade. CT of the thoracic spine showed malalignment with a fracture-dislocation of T15. The fracture of T15 was compressive and there was a moderate narrowing of the spinal canal. The death was likely due to a spinal cord injury. The second animal was found unconscious in a rural area and rescued by the municipal guard. A CT scan revealed a significant increase in volume that extended to the submandibular and ventral upper cervical region with the presence of gas and a low-density core. Additionally, the right tympanic cavity was filled with material of soft tissue density. The animal likely died due to a severe neck infection. The third animal was in a rural area with body wounds. The CT scan showed an increase in muscle volume in the hind limbs with the presence of gaseous content. There was a loss of definition of the abdominal wall and the presence of free intraperitoneal gas. The death was attributed to the heavily infected and deep skin wounds, possibly leading to peritonitis. The post-mortem CT findings were valuable in identifying lesions and determining the cause of death in the three giant anteaters. The sensitivity of the post-mortem exam could be increased by including other imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":40763,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Imaging","volume":"42 ","pages":"Article 200645"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144713466","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号