Minimally invasive post-mortem CT-angiography in a case involving a gunshot wound

• Published in: Legal medicine (Tokyo, Japan) Vol. 12; no. 3; pp. 154 - 156
• Main Authors: Ruder, Thomas D, Ross, Steffen, Preiss, Ulrich, Thali, Michael J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.05.2010
• Subjects: Accidents; Contrast Media - administration & dosage; Coronary Angiography - methods; Coronary Vessels - injuries; Coronary Vessels - pathology; Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials - pathology; Forensic Pathology; Gunshot wound; Heart Ventricles - injuries; Heart Ventricles - pathology; Humans; Internal Medicine; Male; Middle Aged; Pericardial Effusion - pathology; Pleural Effusion - pathology; Post-mortem computed tomography; Post-mortem computed tomography angiography; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Vascular lesion; Wounds, Gunshot - pathology; Vascular lesion; Post-mortem computed tomography angiography; Post-mortem computed tomography; Gunshot wound
• ISSN: 1344-6223; 1873-4162
• DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2010.02.005

Abstract Non-contrast post-mortem computed tomography (pm-CT) is useful in the evaluation of bony pathologies, whereas minimally invasive pm-CT-angiography allows for the detection of subtle vascular lesions. We present a case of an accidentally self-inflicted fatal bullet wound to the chest where pm-CT-angiography revealed a small laceration of the anterior interventricular branch of the left coronary artery and a tiny disruption of the right ventricle with pericardial and pleural effusion. Subsequent autopsy confirmed our radiological findings. Post-mortem CT-angiography has a great potential for the detection of vascular lesions and can be considered equivalent to autopsy for selected cases in forensic medicine.