Post-mortem tissue sampling using computed tomography guidance

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2006.05.035 Byline: Emin Aghayev (a), Michael J. Thali (a), Martin Sonnenschein (b), Christian Jackowski (a), Richard Dirnhofer (a), Peter Vock (b) Keywords: Virtopsy; Forensic radiology; Post-mortem; Multi-slice computed tomography; CT guided biopsy; Needle autopsy Abstract: Currently, in forensic medicine cross-sectional imaging gains recognition and a wide use as a non-invasive examination approach. Today, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging that are available for patients are unable to provide tissue information on the cellular level in a non-invasive manner and also diatom detection, DNA, bacteriological, chemical toxicological and other specific tissue analyses are impossible using radiology. We hypothesised that post-mortem minimally invasive tissue sampling using needle biopsies under CT guidance might significantly enhance the potential of virtual autopsy. The purpose of this study was to test the use of a clinically approved biopsy needle for minimally invasive post-mortem sampling of tissue specimens under CT guidance. Author Affiliation: (a) Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, IRM Buehlstrasse 20, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland (b) Institute of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland Article History: Received 14 January 2006; Revised 11 May 2006; Accepted 17 May 2006