Learning objectives
To describe peculiar findings of burned bodies on postmortem CT (PMCT),
such as pugilistic attitude,
thermal fractures and amputation,
thermal epidural hematoma,
heat rupture and destruction of skin and soft tissue.
To describe PMCT findings of thermal damage to the body which occurred before and after death.
To show the usefulness of PMCT for personal identification of burned bodies.
Background
PMCT can play an important role in forensic medicine as an adjunct to traditional examinations including autopsy.
However,
it is not always simple to interpret PMCT findings,
because various postmortem changes can simulate or obscure the findings of fatal lesions.
In this presentation,
we focus the topic on PMCT findings of the burned bodies,
especially in terms of the differentiation of normal postmortem change from thermal damage to the body which occurred before and after death.
Findings and procedure details
(1) Pathophysiology of the death in a fire
The pathophysiological aspects of death in a fire are complex.
The actual cause of death in a fire results from the interplay of many factors.
In rapid deaths,
the possible cause of death is as follow: oxygen deficiency,
carbon monoxide intoxication,
cyanide intoxication,
flash fire,
heatstroke and heat rigor [1].
Consequently,
it is critically important to obtain a proof that the victim was alive when the fire started and to exclude other causes of death.
(2) The...
Conclusion
In fire-related death,
although PMCT findings do not contribute to the diagnosis of vital reactions such as smoke inhalation and COHb intoxication [3],
PMCT can demonstrate typical signs of heat injuries such as pugilistic attitude,
thermal fracture and amputation,
thermal epidural hematoma,
heat rupture and destruction of skin and soft tissue.
PMCT is best used to evaluate burned bodies for occult antemortem pathologic process or injury and remnants of unsuspected objects [3].
Personal identification by comparison with antemortem CT is also an important role of...
Personal information
T.
Murakami,
S.
Akashi,
M.
Uetani.
Department of Radiological Science,
Unit of Translational Medicine,
Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences,
1-7-1 Sakamoto,
Nagasaki 852-8501,
Japan
Mail to:
[email protected]
T.
Murase,
T.
Yamamoto,
K.
Ikematsu.
Department of forensic pathology and sciences,
Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences,
1-12-4 Sakamoto,
Nagasaki 852-8523,
Japan
References
Danny Spendlove,
Michael J.
Thali.
Heat and Burns.
In: The Virtopsy Approach: 3D Optical and Radiological Scanning and Reconstruction in Forensic Medicine (Michael J.
Thali,
Richard Dirnhofer,
Peter Vock,
eds.; Boca Raton: CRC press),
pp.342-354,
2009.
Angela D.
Levy,
Howard T.
Harcke.
Death from Fire and Burns.
In: Essentials of Forensic Imaging A Text-Atlas (Angela D.
Levy,
Howard T.
Harcke,
eds.; Boca Raton: CRC press),
pp.117-137,
2011.
Angela D.
Levy,
Howard T.
Harcke.
New Approaches to Radiology in Mass Casualty Situations.
In: Brogdon’s Forensic Radiology....