The peritoneum is a unique serosal membrane, which can be the site of primary tumors and, more commonly, secondary pathologic processes. Peritoneal carcinomatosis is the most common malignant condition to affect the peritoneal cavity, and the radiologist plays an important role in making the diagnosis and assessing the extent of disease, especially in sites that may hinder surgery. In this review, we address the role of the radiologist in the setting of peritoneal pathology, focusing on peritoneal carcinomatosis as this is the predominant malignant process, followed by revising typical imaging findings that can guide the differential diagnosis. We review the most frequent primary and secondary peritoneal tumor and tumor-like lesions, proposing a systemic approach based on clinical history and morphological appearance, namely distinguishing predominantly cystic from solid lesions, both solitary and multiple.

The distinction between falls and blows is a common and difficult task in forensic sciences. One of the most often used criteria to address this issue is the hat brim line (HBL) rule which states that fall-related injuries do not lie above the hat brim line. Some studies, however, have found that the use of HBL rule is not so relevant. This study assesses the etiologies, the number of fractures and their location on the skull and the trunk in a sample of 400 individuals aged 20–49 years, which CT-Scanned after traumas. This may facilitate the interpretation of such injuries in skeletonized or heavily decomposed bodies in which soft tissues are no longer available. Our aim is to improve the distinction rate between falls and blows, by combining several criteria and assessing their predictability. Skeletal lesions were analyzed using retrospective computed tomography scans. Cases selected comprise 235 falls and 165 blows. We registered the presence and the number of fractures in fourteen skeletal anatomical regions related to the two different etiologies. We showed that the HBL rule should be used with caution, but there is nevertheless a possibility of discussing the etiology of blunt fractures. Possibly, parameters like the anatomical location and the number of fractures by region can be used to distinguish falls and blows.