Whole-body post mortem CT angiography (PMCTA) is an innovative and experimental imaging technique that relies heavily on interdisciplinary collaboration, access to skilled personnel, advanced technical equipment and the financial possibilities of the workplace. Native CT examinations (PMCT) prior to autopsy are already a standard procedure in certain forensic departments in the Czech Republic (e.g., murders, suicides, deaths of children, traffic accidents etc.). Nonetheless, the progression of forensic sciences all over the world shows the necessity to integrate other advanced imaging modalities in routine forensic practice. Incorporating PMCTA into standard forensic workflows enhances the precision of forensic diagnostics, supplements traditional autopsy findings, and elevates the objectivity of forensic outputs. This paper presents technical notes on the development of PMCTA in forensic practice in a department that since 2015 until now has routinely performed native CT examinations. Institutional support was crucial in enabling the adoption of the imaging technique, which has so far been applied to more than thirty cases. The department is currently conducting a comparative study focused on the application of three different types of perfusion media - polyethylene glycol (PEG), saline, paraffin oil - and assessing the diagnostic efficacy of PMCTA relative to conventional autopsy. Based on our experience, PMCTA is suitable for all corpses except those with advanced post-mortem decomposition or extensive open injuries. The highest diagnostic yield is achieved in cases involving suspected gastrointestinal bleeding or vascular pathologies and lesions especially of large vessels (e.g., dissection/rupture of the aorta). The protocol for whole-body PMCTA can be adapted to meet the specific needs and conditions of individual forensic departments, providing a flexible yet robust framework for enhancing forensic medical investigations.

• Klíčová slova
• : post mortem computed tomography angiography (PMCTA), Autopsy, forensic pathology, post mortem computed tomography (PMCT), research, virtopsy,
• MeSH
• celotělové zobrazování * metody   MeSH
• CT angiografie * metody   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• pitva metody   MeSH
• posmrtné zobrazování MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

In forensic medicine, fatal hypothermia diagnosis is not always easy because findings are not specific, especially if traumatized. Post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) is a useful adjunct to the cause-of-death diagnosis and some qualitative image character analysis, such as diffuse hyperaeration with decreased vascularity or pulmonary emphysema, have also been utilized for fatal hypothermia. However, it is challenging for inexperienced forensic pathologists to recognize the subtle differences of fatal hypothermia in PMCT images. In this study, we developed a deep learning-based diagnosis system for fatal hypothermia and explored the possibility of being an alternative diagnostic for forensic pathologists. An in-house dataset of forensic autopsy proven samples was used for the development and performance evaluation of the deep learning system. We used the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the system for evaluation, and a human-expert comparable AUC value of 0.905, sensitivity of 0.948, and specificity of 0.741 were achieved. The experimental results clearly demonstrated the usefulness and feasibility of the deep learning system for fatal hypothermia diagnosis.

• Klíčová slova
• artificial intelligence, autopsy, deep learning, fatal hypothermia, post-mortem computed tomography,
• MeSH
• deep learning * MeSH
• hypotermie * diagnostické zobrazování   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• pitva metody   MeSH
• počítačová rentgenová tomografie metody   MeSH
• příčina smrti MeSH
• soudní patologie metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

This article describes a method of introducing postmortem CT angiography into daily forensic medicine practice involving cases of limb stab wounds investigated at the Department of Forensic Medicine, University Hospital Ostrava. The essential preparation of the vessels as well as practical tips facilitating the subsequent performance of a classic autopsy are described in detail. Article also includes brief review of published papers dealing with PMCT angiography related issues, advantages which brings CT angiography into forensic routine work, but also its limits and pitfalls.

• Klíčová slova
• Autopsy, forensic medicine, forensic pathology, forensic radiology, postmortem CT angiography, research, sharp force injuries,
• MeSH
• bodné rány * diagnostické zobrazování   MeSH
• CT angiografie * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• pitva * metody   MeSH
• soudní lékařství metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH