Suicidal knife wound to the heart: Challenges in reconstructing wound channels with post mortem CT and CT-angiography

• Published in: Legal medicine (Tokyo, Japan) Vol. 13; no. 2; pp. 91 - 94
• Main Authors: Ruder, Thomas D, Ketterer, Thomas, Preiss, Ulrich, Bolliger, Michael, Ross, Steffen, Gotsmy, Walther F, Ampanozi, Garyfalia, Germerott, Tanja, Thali, Michael J, Hatch, Gary M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.03.2011
• Subjects: Autopsy - methods; Coronary Angiography - methods; Forensic Pathology - methods; Forensic radiology; Heart Injuries - diagnostic imaging; Humans; Internal Medicine; Knife wounds; Male; Middle Aged; Post mortem CT; Post mortem CT angiography; Sharp injuries; Suicide; Tomography, Spiral Computed - methods; Virtopsy; Wounds, Stab - diagnostic imaging; Forensic radiology; Sharp injuries; Knife wounds; Virtopsy; Post mortem CT angiography; Post mortem CT
• ISSN: 1344-6223; 1873-4162
• DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2010.11.005

Abstract We present a case of an individual who stabbed himself through the heart with a large knife. Post mortem computed tomography (CT) and CT-angiography were used to assess the stab channel and to reconstruct the sequence of events. After penetrating injuries to the chest, both the intra-thoracic organs and the injury causing instrument may shift (e.g. from pnemothorax) and render forensic reconstructions more challenging. This case report illustrates the potentials and the pitfalls of CT for the reconstruction of penetrating injures to the chest.