Virtual Autopsy Morphological Features of Drowning

Abstract

ObjectiveTo explore the application value of virtual autopsy to obtain key evidence information on drowned corpses and its application value of virtual autopsy in the diagnosis of drowning.MethodsIn this study, 7 corpses were selected as the research objects. The image data of corpses were collected by computed tomography （CT） before conventional autopsy. The characteristics of corpses were observed through image reading, combined with virtual measurement indexes, and compared with 15 non-drowned corpses.ResultsThe postmortem CT of drowning showed the more fluid in respiratory tract than the non-drowning， and ground-glass opacities in the lung. The statistical volume of fluid in the sinus （maxillary sinus and sphenoid sinus） was （10.24±4.70） mL in drowning cases and （2.02±2.45） mL in non-drowning cases. The average CT value of fluid in the sinus， left atrial blood and gastric contents in drowning cases were （15.91±17.20）, （52.57±9.24） and （10.33±12.81） HU， respectively， which were lower than those in non-drowning cases （P<0.05）.ConclusionThe comprehensive consideration of multiple characteristic image manifestations and the virtual measurement indexes are helpful to the forensic pathological diagnosis of drowning. Virtual autopsy can be used as an auxiliary method in the forensic diagnosis of drowning.

Keywords

• forensic pathology
• drowning
• virtual autopsy
• computed tomography
• sinus effusion
• respiratory effusion