Virtual autopsy to assess sacral anatomy: Conditions for a minimal invasive approach to the spinal canal through the hiatus sacralis.

Background: Despite multiple advantages of minimally invasive techniques in spinal surgery, the currently used approaches may lead to postoperative pain and spinal instability. As a natural orifice, the hiatus sacralis offers a nontransmuscular alternative entry point for endoscopic approaches. In this study, we collected data about the complex anatomical conditions of the sacral canal as a basis for the development of a sacral endoscope.

Energy loss and impact of various stunning devices used for the slaughtering of water buffaloes.

Stock management of the Swiss water buffalo livestock results in the slaughtering of about 350 animals per year. As the stunning of water buffaloes still is an unresolved issue, we investigated the terminal ballistics of currently used perforating stunning devices. Cartridge fired captive bolt devices, handguns and a bullet casing gun were tested in a shooting steep by firing on bisected heads, forehead plates and soap blocks.

Assessment of a specifically developed bullet casing gun for the stunning of water buffaloes.

Water buffaloes and cattle differ considerably with respect to the anatomy of the head. As a result, captive bolt stunners often fail to reliably produce adequate loss of consciousness in water buffaloes and, thus, do not fulfill animal welfare requirements. The goal of the present study was to assess and validate a new stunning device for water buffaloes meeting animal welfare and occupational safety requirements.

Just Scan It!-Weapon Reconstruction in Computed Tomography on Historical and Current Swiss Military Guns.

Cross-sectional imaging, such as computed tomography, has been increasingly implemented in both historic and recent postmortem forensic investigations. It aids in determining cause and manner of death as well as in correlating injuries to possible weapons. This study illuminates the feasibility of reconstructing guns in computed tomography and gives a distinct overview of historic and recent Swiss Army guns.

Pulmonary thromboembolism on unenhanced postmortem computed tomography: Feasibility and findings.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of diagnosing fatal pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) with unenhanced postmortem computed tomography (PMCT).

Materials And Methods: Twelve cases with autopsy confirmed PTE and matched controls (n=19) were retrospectively examined for PTE signs on PMCT. The following variables were evaluated: edema of the lower extremities (areal and Hounsfield Unit measurements) and observer dependent patterns of the morphology of the sedimentation in the pulmonary arteries and trunk.

Magnetic resonance imaging and computer tomography of brain lesions in water buffaloes and cattle stunned with handguns or captive bolts.

Owing to the demand for genuine mozzarella, some 330 water buffaloes are being slaughtered every year in Switzerland albeit a stunning procedure meeting animal welfare and occupational safety requirements remains to be established. To provide a basis for improvements, we sized anatomical specifics in water buffaloes and cattle and we assessed brain lesions after stunning with captive bolts or handguns by diagnostic imaging. In water buffaloes and cattle, the median distance from the frontal skin surface to the inner bone table was 74.

Systematic analysis of the radiologic findings of aortic dissections on unenhanced postmortem computed tomography.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic criteria and to identify the radiological signs (derived from known radiological signs) for the detection of aortic dissections using postmortem computed tomography (PMCT). Thirty-three aortic dissection cases were retrospectively evaluated; all underwent PMCT and autopsy. The images were initially evaluated independently by two readers and were subsequently evaluated in consensus.

Racking the brain: detection of cerebral edema on postmortem computed tomography compared with forensic autopsy.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare postmortem computed tomography with forensic autopsy regarding their diagnostic reliability of differentiating between pre-existing cerebral edema and physiological postmortem brain swelling.

Materials And Methods: The study collective included a total of 109 cases (n=109/200, 83 male, 26 female, mean age: 53.2 years) and were retrospectively evaluated for the following parameters (as related to the distinct age groups and causes of death): tonsillar herniation, the width of the outer and inner cerebrospinal fluid spaces and the radiodensity measurements (in Hounsfield Units) of the gray and white matter.

The forensic holodeck: an immersive display for forensic crime scene reconstructions.

Purpose: In forensic investigations, crime scene reconstructions are created based on a variety of three-dimensional image modalities. Although the data gathered are three-dimensional, their presentation on computer screens and paper is two-dimensional, which incurs a loss of information. By applying immersive virtual reality (VR) techniques, we propose a system that allows a crime scene to be viewed as if the investigator were present at the scene.

Integrated CT-perfusion shows no meaningful correlation with PSA and presurgical Gleason score in patients with early prostate cancer.

Objectives: To analyze the correlation of computed tomography (CT) perfusion parameters blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), and mean transit time (MTT) with presurgical prostate cancer data.

Methods: Ninety-eight patients with biopsy-proven prostate cancer underwent a CT-perfusion scan of the prostate. MTT, BF, and BV were determined and correlated with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, tumor load and Gleason score of transrectal ultrasonography-guided biopsy specimens.

Understanding spatial relationships in US: a computer-based training tool that utilizes inexpensive off-the-shelf game controllers.

The authors present a simulation-based ultrasonographic (US) training tool that can help improve the understanding of spatial relationships in US. Use of a game controller to simulate a US probe allows examination of different virtual three-dimensional (3D) objects. These 3D objects are either completely artificial simple geometric objects (eg, spheres, tubes, and ellipsoids, or more complex combinations thereof) or derived from photographed gross anatomic data (eg, the Visible Human dataset [U.

Diagnostic Performance and Additional Value of Elastosonography in Focal Breast Lesions: Statistical Correlation between Size-Dependant Strain Index Measurements, Multimodality-BI-RADS Score, and Histopathology in a Clinical Routine Setting.

Objective. To evaluate the diagnostic benefit of real-time elastography (RTE) in clinical routine. Strain indices (SI) for benign and malignant tumors were assessed.

Postmortem CT angiography: capabilities and limitations in traumatic and natural causes of death.

Whole-body postmortem computed tomographic (CT) angiography is a promising new development in forensic radiology that has the potential to improve vascular and soft-tissue imaging beyond levels currently achievable with unenhanced postmortem CT. Postmortem access to the vascular system and injection of contrast medium are different from those steps in clinical (antemortem) radiology. Because there is no circulation in a corpse that could transport or dilute a contrast medium, the injection must be performed by using a roller pump to fill the vasculature (arterial and venous) with a mixture of a water-soluble iodized contrast medium and polyethylene glycol.

Imaging in forensic radiology: an illustrated guide for postmortem computed tomography technique and protocols.

Forensic radiology is a new subspecialty that has arisen worldwide in the field of forensic medicine. Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) and, to a lesser extent, PMCT angiography (PMCTA), are established imaging methods that have replaced dated conventional X-ray images in morgues. However, these methods have not been standardized for postmortem imaging.

Assessment of prostate cancer with dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography using an en bloc approach.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the performance of dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the prostate in patients with biopsy-proven prostate cancer.

Material And Methods: A total of 46 male patients (median age, 65 years; range, 49-73 years) with biopsy-proven prostate cancer underwent an en bloc computed tomography perfusion (CTP) scan of the prostate before surgery. The perfusion parameters mean transit time (MTT), blood flow (BF), and blood volume (BV), as well as the microvessel density (MVD) of surgical specimens were determined.

The influence of tibial morphology on the design of an anatomical tibial baseplate for TKA.

Background: Finding the right balance between tibial coverage and minimal implant overhang is an important factor in TKA. Another significant cause of failure is component malrotation.

Methods: An average master shape of the proximal tibia at TKA resection level was calculated using fine slice computed tomographies of 117 cadaveric knees.

Minimally invasive, imaging guided virtual autopsy compared to conventional autopsy in foetal, newborn and infant cases: study protocol for the paediatric virtual autopsy trial.

Background: In light of declining autopsy rates around the world, post-mortem MR imaging is a promising alternative to conventional autopsy in the investigation of infant death. A major drawback of this non-invasive autopsy approach is the fact that histopathological and microbiological examination of the tissue is not possible. The objective of this prospective study is to compare the performance of minimally invasive, virtual autopsy, including CT-guided biopsy, with conventional autopsy procedures in a paediatric population.

Bone marrow edema induced by a bullet after a self-inflicted accidental firing.

We present a case of a postmortem finding of bone marrow edema in postmortem magnetic resonance imaging (PMMR) indirectly induced by a bullet, which barely missed the bone of a 92-year-old man found kneeling in front of his bed of a tidy apartment. Additionally, a selective postmortem computed tomography angiography (PMCTA) of the left leg was performed, visualizing a laceration of the left femoral vein by the bullet with consecutive contrast media extravasation. A vast pulmonary fat embolism was diagnosed and together with the blood loss found to be the cause of death.

Postmortem ventilation in cases of penetrating gunshot and stab wounds to the chest.

We sought to determine the effect of postmortem ventilation in combination with a suction pump in cases showing penetrating trauma to the chest with haemo- and/or pneumothorax, for better evaluation of the lungs in postmortem computed tomography (PMCT). The study included 6 subjects (1 female, 5 male; age 32-67years) with a penetrating gunshot or stab wound to the chest and consecutive pneumo- and/or haemothorax. The pneumo- and haemothorax were evacuated by a suction pump, and postmortem ventilation was applied using a home care ventilator.

Pitfalls in post-mortem CT-angiography--intravascular contrast induces post-mortem pericardial effusion.

We present a case where multi-phase post-mortem computed tomography angiography (PMCTA) induced a hemorrhagic pericardial effusion during the venous phase of angiography. Post-mortem non-contrast CT (PMCT) suggested the presence of a ruptured aortic dissection. This diagnosis was confirmed by PMCTA after pressure controlled arterial injection of contrast.

Multiple osteosclerotic lesions in an Iron Age skull from Switzerland (320-250 BC)--an unusual case.

The single Hochdorf burial was found in 1887 during construction work in the Canton of Lucerne, Switzerland. It dates from between 320 and 250 BC. The calvarium, the left half of the pelvis and the left femur were preserved.

To see or not to see -- ambiguous findings on post-mortem cross-sectional imaging in a case of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.

We present a case of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) with ambiguous accessory findings on post-mortem computed-tomography (PMCT), post-mortem magnetic resonance (PMMR) imaging, and PMCT-angiography (PMCTA) suggestive of thoracic aortic dissection. The diagnosis of ruptured AAA was confirmed by autopsy; however, there was no aortic dissection. The imaging findings that mimicked the presence of aortic dissection might have been an atypical presentation of post-mortem clotting or sedimentation.