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Virtopsy versus digital autopsy: virtuous autopsy

Virtopsy versus autopsia digitale: autopsia virtuosa

  • Forensic Radiology/Radiologia Forense
  • Published:
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Abstract

Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are being increasingly implemented in forensic pathology. These methods may serve as an adjuvant to classic forensic autopsies. Imaging of the interior of corpses is performed using MSCT and/or MRI. MRI, in addition, is also well suited to the examination of surviving victims of assault, especially choking, and helps visualise internal injuries sometimes not seen on external examination of the victim. Various postprocessing techniques can provide strong forensic evidence for use in legal proceedings. The documentation and analysis of postmortem findings with MSCT and MRI and postprocessing techniques (virtopsy) is investigator independent, objective and noninvasive and will lead to qualitative improvements in forensic pathologic investigation. Apart from the accuracy and three dimensionality that conventional documentations lack, these techniques allow for the re-examination of the corpse and the crime scene even decades later, after burial of the corpse and liberation of the crime scene. We believe that this virtual, noninvasive or minimally invasive approach will improve forensic medicine in the near future.

Riassunto

La tomografia computerizzata multistrato (TCMS) e la risonanza magnetica (RM) sono metodiche d’imaging sempre più richieste in patologia forense. Tali tecniche possono essere di grande ausilio alle classiche autopsie medico-legali. La visualizzazione degli organi interni del cadavere può essere eseguita preventivamente utilizzando la TCMS e/o la RM. La RM, in aggiunta, è indicata anche per la valutazione delle vittime superstiti di azioni violente, in particolare lo strangolamento, in quanto aiuta ad individuare lesioni interne talvolta non apprezzabili neanche ad un’attenta osservazione esterna della vittima. Varie tecniche di post-elaborazione sono in grado di fornire indiscutibili prove legali da utilizzare nel corso dei vari procedimenti giudiziari. La documentazione e l’analisi dei reperti post-mortem individuati mediante TCMS e RM come pure alcune tecniche di post-elaborazione (virtopsy) sono esecutore-indipendenti, oggettive, non invasive e porteranno nel tempo a miglioramenti qualitativi nelle indagini patologiche forensi. A parte l’accuratezza e la tridimensionalità di cui mancano le documentazioni convenzionali, queste tecniche consentono di riesaminare sia il cadavere che il luogo del delitto anche decenni più tardi, dopo la sepoltura della salma e l’alterazione del luogo del reato. Noi crediamo che questo approccio virtuale, noninvasivo o minimamente invasivo permetterà di migliorare la medicina forense nel prossimo futuro. kw]

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sezione Dipartimentale di Medicina Legale, Università degli Studi di Foggia, Ospedale Colonnello D’Avanzo, Via degli Aviatori 1, 71100, Foggia, Italy

    C. Pomara & V. Fineschi

  2. Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Università degli Studi di Foggia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria “Ospedali Riuniti”, Viale Luigi Pinto 1, 71100, Foggia, Italy

    G. Scalzo & G. Guglielmi

  3. Dipartimento di Radiologia, Ospedale IRCCS “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza”, Viale Cappuccini 1, San Giovanni Rotondo, 71013, Foggia, Italy

    G. Guglielmi

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  1. C. Pomara
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  2. V. Fineschi
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Correspondence to G. Guglielmi.

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Pomara, C., Fineschi, V., Scalzo, G. et al. Virtopsy versus digital autopsy: virtuous autopsy. Radiol med 114, 1367–1382 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-009-0435-1

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